3 Reasons PR & Communications Pros Need to Know SEO

The PR industry is in a state of flux with increasing substance on getting into the content and social web business. Consumers are spending more time with digital and social media. Publicity dollars are following. That means less budget to staff newsrooms and reporters, journalists and editors to pitch.

Understanding the needs of their “customers’ customer” is essential for PR agencies and communications professionals to wait relevant and productive. “Push PR” is increasingly being complemented by “Pull” tactics – optimization for discovery. Being able to provide value is essential and here are 3 ways a better understanding of SEO can do just that.

1. Fish where the fish are.

There were over 14 billion core searches in Dec (comSore) vs 285 million who watch TV in a agreed month (Nielsen). Consumers rely on search daily to find news and information. PR and communications types need to know the consumer search behaviors and preferences (keywords) of their clients as well as the publications they want their clients to be covered by.

2. Journalists rely on search.

According to TopRank’s “Journalist Use of Search survey”, 91% of journalists, editors and reporters surveyed use standard search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Bing to do their job. That preference was mirrored by findings in a recently published “Social Media & Online Usage Study” (pdf) by George washington University and Cision where 100% of those surveyed use Google to research tales.

3. Optimization is about more than SEO.

Search engine optimization, digital asset optimization, social media optimization and even micromedia optimization (ie real time SEO) are buzzwords all representing opportunities for Media Relations and communications professionals to influence discovery by making it simpler for various types of search engines to find, index and rank their content.

It’s imporant that communications people know the uncommon search options consumers and the media are by to deliver and consume news. If content can be searched on, it can be optimized. That includes everything from press releases to video to Tweets.

Search Engine Optimization or “SEO” as an umbrella term is typically concerned with any kind of work that influences any kind of search engine to do what it does best and hopefully in favor of the content being promoted. Most people mean optimizing content for better visibility in Google, Yahoo or Bing when they use SEO tactics.

It’s vital to note that many publishers are already by SEO tactics to make their news tales better suited for discovery and reputation on search engines. These efforts have resulted in substantial increases in traffic to online news sites, improving the pull of publicity.

Digital Asset Optimization or “DAO” is a term TopRank has used and promoted since 2007 that makes reference to the uncommon types of media search engines like Google have started to show (aka Blended or Universal search results) depending on the query. Search results are no longer restricted to web pages and can include metaphors, video thumbnails, news, blogs, books and local information. Optimizing for these uncommon types of media involves understanding what digital assets can be made, keyword optimized and published online for search.

Social Media Optimization or “SMO” is a term initially made well loved by Rohit Bhargava and added on to by several others in the SEO world including TopRank. While many social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn keep the bulk of their content behind a login and away from search engine spiders, many social interactions produce content that can be indexed and included in search results. Journalists and consumers increasingly participate with social channels to watch, share, say and curate information. If PR and communications can know how to influence keyword use of social content then their news will be simpler for analysts, reporters and journalists to find.

Here’s a tale related to me by an editor in the TopRank Journalist use of search survey that illustrates the intersection of search and social media:

“I was writing a column about the plotted partnership between Google and Yahoo.”

“I tracked down potential sources first by Google and LinkedIn, and came across a white paper prepared by a senior fellow at the American Antitrust Institute.”

“While I could not easily find an e-mail address, I went to Facebook where I located him, then sent a message. He answered and we followed up with a phone interview.”

Micromedia Optimization is a new term that basically means real time optimization of reputation updates and content sources that are indexed and included as real time content by search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing. The same micromedia content can be mutual and learned on platform specific search engines such as search.twitter.com and across social networks that provide the opportunity to syndicate such content. Google Buzz, Facebook reputation updates and LinkedIn updates are also included in this category.

The takeaway that I reckon is most vital for communications professionals is to know the nature of search and how to match up optimization tactics with channels of disccovery. By keyword research for both standard search and social search optimization of news content along with ongoing web analytics and social media monitoring are key.

I’ll be discussing these strategies, tactics and a lot more at SMC Louisville tonight 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. ET on at the Louisville Visual Art Association. I hope folks can courageous the snow (safely) and make it out. You won’t be disappointed!

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3 Reasons PR & Communications Pros Need to Know SEO |
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