Are you Optimizing Beyond Google? Here are 7 Key Platforms SEOs Must Optimize for Maximum Visibility

Are you loading all your SEO eggs in Google’s basket?

For years, Google has been the holy grail for worldwide web-based search, and while SEO literally revolved around the monopoly of this search giant, the trends are now taking a major shift. For the past half a decade, traditional SEO strategies are no longer enough to capture your audience’s attention.

Why? Because they are now fragmented across multiple platforms actively searching for content. Now, a new form of SEO is shaping up.

Say hello to “Search Everywhere Optimization” (SEO 2.0), a modern take on the OG SEO, that emphasizes optimizing content for the target audience spread across multiple platforms like Amazon, YouTube, Instagram etc., as a significant chunk of online searches happen on these platforms nowadays.

So, the big question to ask here is whether you have your content optimized beyond Google and if not, how to optimize SEO for platforms beyond Google. In this post, we will look at the top seven platforms that can be leveraged to supercharge your brand’s visibility and drive traffic.

Why Should You Optimize Beyond Google?

As mentioned above, user behavior has evolved dramatically over the last few years. People now search for content and information across social platforms dedicated to a particular niche. For instance, people search for a product they are looking for on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, watch its reviews on YouTube, read comments on community apps like Reddit or Facebook and follow the brand’s activities on Instagram or Tik Tok. They now no longer need to go on Google to find and read articles or blog posts related to the product they are searching for.

Here’s why you should optimize SEO beyond Google:

1. Segregated Traffic: Putting all your bets on Google is a risky affair. Especially, considering the release of core updates happening every now and then, your hard-earned search rankings most probably will go for a toss, resulting in losing your existing and new customers. Therefore, optimizing for all platforms ensures steady traffic in any turbulent time.

2. Improved Audience Targeting: With your audience diversified across various social platforms, it brings audiences belonging to varied demographics. When your brand is present on multiple search engines and discovery platforms, you automatically tap into a wider and new set of relevant audiences, every single day.

3. Higher Conversions: Users who are on platforms like Amazon or Instagram are most likely, willing to make a purchase. Therefore, optimizing for these platforms only increases your chances of reaching your brand out to them as well as improving the odds of converting views into sales.

What Are the 7 Key Platforms SEOs Must Optimize Beyond Google?

1. YouTube – The World’s Second-largest Search Engine

Yes. With more than 2.7 billion monthly active users, YouTube ranks second after Google. Being a video sharing platform, people flock in to watch reviews/tutorial/how-to guides.

YouTube SEO Tips:

• Optimize titles and descriptions to be SEO-friendly
• Organize video tags and categories
• Use captivating thumbnails to drive CTR
• Include timestamps for improved search rankings and user experience.

Pro Tip: Learn how to boost YouTube rankings with SEO as a part of your marketing strategy and achieve success.

2. Amazon – The Shopper’s Search Engine

This won’t be a surprise for many as we all open Amazon or other international/regional e-commerce apps, when a need for product search arises. In fact, more than 63% of online shoppers start their product search on Amazon and not Google. If you’re a brand owner, then a solid Amazon SEO strategy is a must.

SEO Tips for Amazon:

• Make use of bullet points and descriptions to highlight benefits.
• While writing product titles, include high-intent keywords.
• Procure more and more good reviews to boost credibility.
• Optimize backend search terms (hidden keywords).

Pro Tip: Amazon gives preference to products with good conversion rates, so it’d be better to focus on creating persuasive content and images.

3. Instagram – The Visual Discovery Engine

Instagram’s search and explore feature is akin to an interactive search engine, aiding users discover brands, products, and services through visual (video/image) posts.

SEO Tips for Instagram:

• Use keyword-rich captions (Instagram has now started ranking for text searches).
• Connect with your followers through regular stories and reels to go “viral”.
• Hone your alt text for better discoverability.
• Leverage hashtags and location tags to improve local SEO.

Pro Tip: Instagram is shifting towards AI-powered discovery, meaning the right SEO tactics can help you appear in more feeds organically.

4. Pinterest – The Visual Search Engine

If Instagram is a visual-oriented brand discovery engine, Pinterest is a visual search engine to discover ideas and content. It has over 450 million active users and is a goldmine for brands in fashion, home decor, fitness, and DIY niches, making it perfect for e-commerce and content marketing.

SEO Tips for Pinterest:

• Use high-quality images with keyword-rich descriptions.
• Create rich pins to provide more context and climb rankings.
• Regularly pin to let the algorithm know that you are active.
• Optimize board names and descriptions with relevant search terms.

Pro Tip: Unlike Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest posts have a longer shelf life, with pins driving traffic for months or even years!

5. LinkedIn – The B2B SEO Powerhouse

LinkedIn would be your go-to platform if your business is in the B2B sector. Boasting over 1 billion users, it’s where professionals connect & network, research brands, and engage with industry-related topics.

SEO Tips for LinkedIn:

• Optimize your profile and company page with relevant keywords.
• Use hashtags and tag relevant people to increase reach.
• Engage in LinkedIn groups to boost visibility.
• Publish SEO-optimized LinkedIn articles to rank in both LinkedIn and Google searches.

Pro Tip: LinkedIn’s algorithm rewards regular engagement, so make sure to be in the mix daily with comments, shares, and posts to stay relevant.

6. TikTok – The Silent Giant Killer

Silent because TikTok came in quietly as a social media app and quickly became the go-to search engine for Gen Z and Millennials, over established social/search giants. Every day, more people are searching for product recommendations, how-tos, and reviews on TikTok than ever before, amidst all the controversy.

SEO Tips for TikTok:

• Communicate with your users with short, high-energy content.
• Use trending keywords in captions and hashtags.
• Liven up your profile with relevant keywords.
• Encourage user-generated content for higher engagement.

Pro Tip: TikTok SEO is all about engagement metrics. The more likes, shares, and comments your video gets, the higher it ranks.

7. Apple & Bing Search – The Underrated Behemoths

There is no question about Google’s monopoly in the search engine market with more than 90% share, but Apple and Bing see millions of searches every day. With Apple switching to its own search engine and Bing collaborating with Open AI for ChatGPT-powered AI search, it would be a mistake to avoid these search engines.

SEO Tips for Apple & Bing:

• Optimize for voice search, as both Siri and Alexa depend on these platforms.
• Ensure your site is Bing Webmaster Tools optimized for enhanced indexing.
• Prioritize Bing Places for Business to improve local search rankings.

Pro Tip: With Microsoft’s increasing AI adoption, Bing SEO is becoming more important—early birds will get to enjoy the most benefits.

Final Thoughts
To wrap things up, relying on just Google for SEO is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. For any brand to stand out, it is important to diversify your activities across all major social platforms.

SEO 2.0 isn’t just about casting a wide net and playing the waiting game—it’s about taking the initiative to meet your audience where they are. By focusing on social platforms like YouTube, Amazon, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Bing, and Instagram, you can reach your targeted audience, initiate more traffic, and ultimately increase conversions.

To optimize your SEO 2.0 strategy, partner with a professional SEO team to take your brand everywhere across the web and dominate this new, multi-platform SEO strategy!