How to Use Social Media Buttons for SEO

Contrary to what many people may think, social media and SEO share common ground. While the connection may not be immediately apparent, the social signals generated by social media have incredible power in building and expanding brand recognition, awareness, and reputation.

Consider the last time you found yourself in a new city looking for a coffee spot. Did you not turn to Google to discover local cafes and then check their Facebook profiles, perusing images shared by the clients?

Perhaps you even glanced at their Instagram for a visual feast of pastries to pair with your coffee choice.

This illustrates the crucial role social media plays for local businesses, and indeed, for all businesses – whether operating online or in a physical space. Apart from making your brand more famous online, so to say, they simply attract more – often new – customers and clients to your website.

That’s why integrating those vibrant social media buttons into your platform makes absolute sense.

Social buttons, or social media buttons, are those colorful clickable icons representing popular social media platforms that you see on most web pages. They let visitors easily share content on their social media profiles, like Facebook, X/Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and even through email.

examples of social media buttons; source: Reddit

These buttons make things simpler for your readers or customers. When they come across something that they truly like – eg. an impressively useful blog post, mind-blowing statistics, or intriguing graphics – or want to show off a recent buy on social media, these buttons come in handy.

This means that…

And it’s not just about convenience.

When visitors share your content, it helps spread the word about your brand and the awesome content you have published on your website. This way, more people get to know about you and what you offer.

In digital marketing, social media and search engine optimization go hand in hand. In a sense, they share a symbiotic relationship, much like it happens in nature, where different species team up for mutual benefit. What are those benefits in particular?

There are at least three simple yet important reasons why social media matters for SEO:

Social signals, like the thumbs-up (likes), comments, and shares on your social media posts, are like a barometer of your content’s quality for search engines. The more social signals – especially shares – your website accumulates, the more search engines recognize its worth.

Consequently, the more likes and shares your website gets, the higher the possibility it will climb in search engine rankings. This not only helps your website get noticed but also tells your audience that your content is worth engaging with.

There are about 4.95 billion social media users worldwide, spending an average of 3 hours each day on these platforms. That’s a massive audience!

source: Statista

Taking the States alone, around 310 million people are using social media every single day.

source: Statista

To help you grasp the scale of such a large number, you would need around 2,879 Michigan Stadiums (note: that’s the biggest stadium in the USA) to host an audience of 310 million people. That’s mind-blowing!

Therefore, adding social media buttons to your web pages is like opening a door to this gigantic crowd. These buttons act as bridges, connecting your content with users beyond your website, doubling or even tripling your target market.

Imagine your visitors wanting to share your awesome content. With social media buttons, they can do it without leaving your page. This is a big deal because people online have short attention spans.

Example of social media buttons used on BuzzFeed

You want to keep them interested, and one way to do that is by making it super easy for them to like, share, and comment on your content.

While Google has clarified that social media is not a direct ranking factor, the influence of social signals on SEO is significant. In simpler terms, although social media and UGC aren’t officially on Google’s ranking checklist, they serve as a valuable means to strengthen the factors that Google indeed considers.

For example, when your content is shared on social platforms, it doesn’t just increase visibility but also opens doors to valuable link building opportunities. This is especially true when your content reaches the right audience who might visit your website and link back to your content from their own websites. Here lies the indirect impact of social media on your SEO.

According to Google’s Search Quality Rating Guidelines, social media posts and profiles are considered when evaluating the reputation of content creators and websites. These guidelines, followed by manual search evaluators hired by Google, help refine search algorithms to continually improve result quality.

Also, social signals align with Google’s emphasis on experience, expertise, authority, and trust (E-E-A-T). Although strong social signals alone won’t rather push your website to the very top of search results, Google uses this information to improve the overall quality of search results.

Also, it’s pretty common to see website owners proudly showing off their social metrics on content pages. And why not? It makes sense! Social signals like likes, shares, and comments are like little nods saying, “Hey, this content is awesome!” It’s not just a fancy display – it’s a smart move, combining psychology and UX to work to your advantage.

Now you understand that the impact of social signals remains relevant to your SEO and content marketing strategy.

Adding social media buttons to your website might vary depending on the content management system (CMS) you use. Usually, you can drop in these share icons using good old Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) codes.

Luckily, the most popular content management systems now come with plugins that simplify adding share buttons. No coding is required!

For WordPress website owners, getting those social media buttons is super simple. Just follow these straightforward steps:

STEP 1: Jump into the admin panel of your WordPress website.

STEP 2: Cruise over to the left side menu, hover on Plugins, and click  Add New.

STEP 3: Head over to the search bar located in the right-hand corner of the plugin options. Type in the name of the plugin you’re eyeing for those social media logos or sharing buttons. Our picks? Simple Social Icons or Sassy Social Icons

STEP 4: Click Install.

That’s it!

If you’re a WIX website owner looking to improve your content with some shareable social icons, here’s a quick guide:

STEP 1: Go to your Single Post Page.

STEP 2: Hover over the space in your single post page, spot those three dots for options, and give them a click to access Settings.

STEP 3: Scroll down to find the social button options.

STEP 4: Check or uncheck the boxes next to the social media buttons based on whether you want to add or hide them on your website.

And that’s it. Feel free to click on those social icon fields to tweak the text and slide that slider to make your social buttons as big or small as you like them to look.

If you’re up for a bit of tech fun and know a bit about coding, here’s your instruction to add some personal flair to your online store’s social share buttons.

STEP 1: Go to your Shopify admin panel.

STEP 2: Click on Themes located in the Sales Channels section.

STEP 3: Select the theme you want to add the social media buttons to.

STEP 4: Click the three-dot menu to see the menu. Choose Edit code.

STEP 5: Now you see the theme code of your Shopify store. Go to the left side and pick out theme.liquid.

STEP 6: This is where you can add the social share button code. Don’t forget to tailor-fit them to your preferences and website layout.

Naturally, the choice of placing it into the header, body, or footer section is all yours. Just make sure to give your code a little test run to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Now, if your website isn’t built on WordPress, WIX, or Shopify, you can add social magic to your website by simply copying and pasting an HTML code to activate your share buttons. Here’s how to do it.

STEP 1: Go to a website that shares the HTML code. Make sure it’s one of the websites that is user-friendly.

STEP 2: Copy the code and paste it into your code – your social buttons are live.

Alternatively, or, if you’re all about efficiency, consider these nifty third-party services such as AddInto, AddToAny. They offer several codes for social media icons, making a great place for all your social button needs.

Still feeling a bit lost? No worries. Simply get in touch with us and we will gladly take this task off your shoulders. Sometimes, a little help can go a long way!

Boosting social shares is similar to real estate – location matters. The way you position your share icons can significantly impact how often your content gets shared on social media platforms. That’s why consider using one of the five most common social media button placements:

🧩 social media button placement #1: the bottom of a website / website footer

Place your social media buttons at the bottom of your content page. Why? Well, when readers hit the bottom, it’s usually for one of two good reasons: they’re after the content summary or conclusion, or they’ve enjoyed your content and read most of it, if not the whole thing.

source: Huberman Lab

This is the sweet spot to remind them to spread the word on their social networks.

🧩 social media button placement #2: top of a page for stronger social proof

Once those social shares start piling up, consider displaying your social media icons at the top of your content page. This clever move helps you show off the number of shares that your amazing content has managed to accumulate.

source: Search Engine Journal

It’s a powerful visual cue, especially for new readers who might not be familiar with your brand. It signals that people honestly love your content, which may encourage them to read and share it.

🧩 social media button placement #3: in the header

Placing share buttons in the header is like placing them in the prime spot. It’s visible right from the get-go, creating a welcoming invitation for your visitors to share your content.

source: Ghost

🧩 social media button placement #4: floating social media buttons

Consider a floating share bar that moves with your readers as they scroll. These unobtrusive yet ever-present social media buttons ensure your share icons are always within a click’s reach, making it easy for your audience to hit a given button whenever the mood strikes.

source: Pick Up Limes

source: Pick Up Limes

🧩 social media button placement #5: the classic sidebar

It’s a steady, reliable spot for share buttons, always hanging out alongside your content, ready to be noticed and clicked. The best place for your share buttons? Well, that depends on the unique setup and content of your website.

source: TechCrunch

Experiment and see what fits your pages best.

It’s a bit baffling how many company websites overlook the chance to boost their social media presence simply by not placing share icons where they matter most. There are a few types of web pages that people are naturally more inclined to share, and these strategic placements can make all the difference.

4 Examples of Highly Shareable Web Pages

• Blog posts are often a goldmine of information, opinions, and insights. Readers who find value in your blog will likely share this valuable content with their networks, extending your reach organically.
• Case studies show real-world applications of your products or services, providing proof of success. Readers are inclined to share these success stories, amplifying your brand’s credibility.
• Original research findings add unique value to your industry. People love being in the know, and if your research brings fresh insights, they’ll want to share this newfound knowledge with their peers.
• Job posts have a built-in network effect. Candidates interested in a position will likely share it within their professional circles, expanding the reach of your job openings.

The truth is that boosting your social presence is all about being where your audience is. When it comes to social share buttons on your website, make sure to simply prioritize the platforms that your target audience hangs out the most often. What are those? Take a look at a quick rundown of the leading social media platforms in 2023, according to Statista.com:

source: Statista

2023 Ranking Order Based on Worldwide Usage:

1. Facebook
2. YouTube
3. WhatsApp
4. Instagram
5. WeChat
6. TikTok
7. Facebook Messenger
8. Telegram
9. Snapchat
10. Douyin
11. Kuaishou
12. X / Twitter
13. Sina Weibo
14. QQ
15. Pinterest

While this list provides a comprehensive ranking, it doesn’t mean you have to flood your website with every social media icon listed. Know your audience. Find out where they hang out online and prioritize those platforms. This way, you keep your website sleek and user-friendly, avoiding unnecessary clutter while ensuring your share buttons hit the right spots.

🚀 TAKEAWAY#1: Using social media buttons on your website might seem trivial, but they play a vital role in supporting your SEO efforts. Those clickable icons contribute significantly to improving your website’s visibility and earning valuable backlinks.

🌐 TAKEAWAY#2: Social share buttons not only improve your website’s user experience but also extend the reach of your content, boosting brand influence. Importantly, social signals conveyed through these buttons serve as indicators of content quality.

📌 TAKEAWAY#3: Follow best practices when adding social media buttons, such as placing them at the bottom and top of your content pages, especially as shares accumulate. Make sure they are placed on highly shareable web pages like blogs, case studies, research findings, and job posts.

🔍 TAKEAWAY#4: Consider the popular social media platforms your target audience uses often.

🛠️ TAKEAWAY #5: Adding social media sharing buttons isn’t that complicated, particularly on popular CMS like WordPress or Wix.

Remember that if you have some problems or need guidance on selecting the right social media platforms, reach out to us for assistance.

Oh, and if you found this content helpful, don’t hesitate to share it!

This is an updated version of the article first published on June 1st, 2020.