I agree wholeheartedly with 16). Incorporating SMO in all web processes is so important. Whether it be SEO or SMO, applying band-aid solutions to existing content after the fact can create headaches, not to mention is an ineffective management of time and resources. I’m sure being a fellow SEO you’ve seen your share of sites where you thought, “If only they had applied this *before* creating the content…”

Thanks for the informative post, Lee.

I think in large part creating viral marketing involves having a big existing presence in social media. You can’t expect users to link to something just because they think it is good and then expect all of their friends to link out and so forth. Although that might seem logical, how many other places on the internet are we actually seeing this (people used to say the same thing about SEO). Most successful Social MEdia Marketing campaigns I have seen strated with a fanbase to have a large initial seed for spreading links.

For future reference, there is a wiki on this subject.

“Conference panels addressed the intersection of social media with marketing, movies, television, music, and, yes, the news. But as conference panelists expressed enthusiasm over this new era of public conversation, there remained few answers to questions about how news organizations ought to enlist social media to improve journalism… as well as their bottom lines.

“Follow the audience,” urged Vivian Schiller, vice president and general manager as NYTimes.com. “The more noise there is out there, the more need there will be for authoritative quality journalism.”

My response as it pertains to this article about SMO, is “follow the journalists.” My own SMO and online PR practices have been in part shaped by the massive info found at destinations such as pynter.org.

Great post, Lee. I’ll be returning.

Even if you stop all three campaigns, you will be still getting good traffic.

I have added something beneath your’s and other authors of these 17 rules. I don’t know whether it fits under the topic. Your’s and other author’s comments are always appreciated.

I won’t call it 18th rule but would like to add to the rule 11. Social Media is not only about a word straight from horse’s mouth but a word from all those who have experienced the subject which is being discussed. So keep your opinion accompanying your experience from which readers could and most importantly for FREE! If you could offer something more than free, it would work like toppings on ice-cream.

Need an example for “better than free”? Here you are, allow people to use the information from your site / blog for free and reward them with points for every referral which could be reimbursed by them to avail your product, service etc. Or reward them with something which they could utilize and add value.

I hope someone could come up with more creative idea than mine. I just want it to give it a kick start!

Should balance seo with smo is must.
Thats what I practice for all my client sites and projects.

Reema Sarin
Director Public Relations & marketing
Lamborghini and Bentley India