There is a lot of debate around whether social media directly affects SEO rankings. While Google has clarified that social signals (likes, shares, followers) are not a direct ranking factor, social platforms still play an indirect role:
- Content Amplification: Social media helps distribute content to a wider audience, which can naturally attract backlinks.
- Indexing & Visibility: Active social sharing can help search engines discover and index new content faster.
- Brand Authority: A strong presence on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or YouTube can build trust, which indirectly supports SEO efforts.
- Search Behavior: Social profiles themselves often rank for branded queries, influencing what users see first about a company.
That said, relying solely on social media for SEO is risky because algorithm changes on platforms can kill reach overnight.