Social Media Mastery - How do you Master SEO? - Episode 8
The past week has been… interesting. My views have taken a bit of a dip, and if I’m being totally honest, so has my motivation.
And that’s okay.
If you’ve been creating content for any length of time, you’ll know what I mean. That one week where posting feels like a chore instead of fun. You start overthinking every caption, doubting every idea, and scrolling instead of posting.
For me, this happens around once every two or three months. It’s like a mini creative burnout cycle, but it always passes. The key is recognising it for what it is: temporary. Usually, I bounce back stronger the following week, full of new ideas and energy.
So if you’ve felt that slump recently, take this as your reminder that it’s completely normal. Even the most consistent creators lose rhythm now and again, but what separates them from the rest is that they always come back swinging.
Anywayyyyyy, let’s get into this week’s topic:
SEO - The Most Intimidating Term in Digital Marketing
Ah, SEO. The three-letter word that seems to make every business owner and creator panic just a little.
For years, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) has been branded as crucial for online growth, and it is. But when it comes to social media specifically, there’s a bit more nuance to it.
So, is SEO crucial for social media?
The short answer is: yes.
The longer answer is: it depends on what stage you’re at.
My Honest Take on SEO for Social Media
I genuinely believe SEO plays a vital role in getting discovered, but it’s not the most important factor.
If I had to rank priorities for someone trying to grow their social media, I’d put things like:
Quality of content - Are you posting something people actually want to watch, read, or share?
Consistency of content - Are you showing up regularly enough for the algorithm (and your audience) to remember you exist?
Defining your niche - Are you speaking to one clear audience, rather than trying to please everyone?
Only after those three would I say SEO deserves your full focus. Because SEO can make your content discoverable, but if the content itself isn’t good, people won’t stay anyway.
That said, SEO is still a powerful multiplier once your foundations are in place. It helps your posts reach new audiences, boosts search visibility, and makes your content easier to find long after you post it.
Let’s break down how to use it effectively.
📌 Profile Optimisation
This is where everything begins.
Your profile is your homepage, your first impression. When someone lands on your page, they should instantly understand who you are, what you do, and why they should follow you.
To make that happen, you need to add keywords into your bio and username that clearly describe your niche or industry.
For example, if you’re a “social media manager in Norwich,” make sure that phrase appears somewhere in your name or bio. The reason is simple: both your name and bio are searchable on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
So if someone searches for “Norwich social media agency,” and you’ve optimised correctly, you’re far more likely to show up.
SEO starts with clarity, so make sure your profile speaks for you before your content does.
📌 Content Optimisation
Now let’s talk about your posts themselves.
Social media platforms rely heavily on text and context to figure out what your content is about. The easier you make it for them to categorise your content, the easier it is for you to be discovered.
In simple terms: use relevant keywords in your captions, alt text, and even on-screen text.
If your video is about “how to grow on Instagram,” then say it, literally. The algorithms on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are smart enough to detect your spoken words too, so make sure they align with your captions and hashtags.
The goal here is to make your content crystal clear, for both humans and algorithms.
📌 Hashtag Optimisation
Yes, hashtags are still around, and yes, they still matter.
They might feel a bit old-school, but if you don’t already have a massive following, hashtags are still a great discovery tool.
Think of hashtags as digital filing cabinets. When you use the right ones, your content gets neatly stored in feeds where people are already interested in your topic.
But here’s the trick: don’t overdo it. Use 5–10 relevant hashtags rather than 30 random ones. Prioritise specificity over popularity, a niche hashtag with 10,000 posts is often more effective than a generic one with 10 million.
And remember: hashtags are searchable too, meaning people can find your posts days or even weeks later if they search the right term.
Let’s Be Real About SEO
SEO can be a real b*tch. There, I said it.
It can feel confusing, technical, and frustrating, especially when you’re not seeing results right away. But once you grasp the basics, you’ll start noticing patterns.
Your posts will perform better. Your profile visits will increase. Your older content will keep working quietly in the background, bringing in new followers long after you’ve moved on to your next post.
That’s the magic of SEO done right: it’s not about instant gratification. It’s about long-term visibility.
The Bottom Line
If you can get the basics right, profile, captions, and hashtags, you’ve already mastered 80% of what social media SEO really is.
But remember this: SEO is a supporting role, not the star of the show.
Your content quality, consistency, and clarity will always matter more than the perfect keyword placement.
So, keep learning, keep experimenting, and keep showing up.
As always with social media, good things take time.
The growth might not happen overnight, but when it does, it’s always worth it.
Make sure to subscribe, and remember - "Success comes to those who work harder than everyone else and obsess over the details no one else notices."
- Jacob
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