The Impact of Social Media Signals on Organic Search Results: Can Small Businesses Compete for Exposure on the Internet?

Date of Award

8-15-2014

Document Type

Undergraduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Professional Studies

Organizational Unit

University College, Communication Managament

Disciplines

Organiz. & Prof. Communication

First Advisor

Michael Hanbery

Keywords

Social media, SEO, SERPs, Search engine optimization, Signals, Search engine results, Search rank, Google

Abstract

It is vital for small businesses to appear in search engine rankings in order to be competitive. Search engine algorithms constantly change and are now said to include signals from social media platforms. The focus of this study is on the impact of social media signals on search rank for a small, upstart business by isolating social media activity and comparing it to ranking trends for specific keywords used within the company's blog and social media sphere. Results from this study will help small businesses determine if social media is a worthwhile investment in terms of increasing search rank on Google.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

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