Social media optimisation (SMO) for marketing success, does it work?

Abstract

Mintel (2009) reported as Social Media users gain confidence in utilising Social Media Sites, they will incorporate these new media forms more into their everyday lives.Jobber (2007) stated that the power of new technologies tend to engender a shift in orientation in marketing plan. In 2006, Rohit Bhargava created 'Social Media Optimisation (SMO)' as guidelines for internet-content producer to optimise their website using Social Media. From these literature reviews, the aims of this study were drawn; to understand how Social Media Optimising (SMO) strategy harmonises with e-Marketing needs and current social media site, and to look into Social Media capability of internet content promotion in relation to Social Media Users' behaviour. The method used in this study was a computer based questionnaire involving 350 respondents. Social Media sites (such as, Facebook, Twitter and Social Blogs) were used in order to test the internet promotion ability. It was found that 90 percent of the respondents are likely to share information that they found on the'Web as content sharing has been made effortless by easy access and plug-ins provided by Social Media sites. The findings in this research were aimed to satisfy the research questions by identifying the agreement of Social Media Optimisation (SMO) strategies with e-Marketing need and current Social Media sites; and by challenging the effectiveness of SMO strategies for internet content promotion.