What is Search?
Search is looking for solutions on the (SERPs) Search Engine Result Pages by inputs chiefly queries. People search on the browser window – the blank rectangular space all are familiar with. They input a query which could be a hint, a question, or a phrase to get an answer to what they are seeking from the search engines chiefly Google. Why Google? Well, Google holds a spectacular market share of more the ninety-five percent.
But remember all search is not on the SERPS, Youtube is another search engine that provides answers to inputs such as videos. Social media sites also in a way act like search engines but the scope as compared to a search engine is limited. Other examples are Quora, FB, Reddit, and new ones that keep coming up.
Search: The Ten Blue Links
Search is fun, exciting, and mysterious and provides in-depth answers to user queries. The ten blue links you see on the SERP are the results of your input. In addition, you find a related knowledge box, related carousal, and some questions, and anwser the information contained will broaden your knowledge add additional information, and perhaps make you click on that very source. On the right panel and the top, you will find some paid Ads that generate revenue for search engines. Google Ads is one fine example.
Participation in search is free and listing and ranking is free. It is how you win over the search engine. Algorithms make the difference whether your site as an owner ranks in the first ten on a chosen keyword. Hence if you as a website owner wish to provide an answer to the visitor’s query and get traffic and goal conversion your site has to conform to search engine guidelines. The process is known as search engine optimization and is conducted by an SEO Specialist or webmaster which is just another name for SEO.
The possibility of finding interesting content from just anywhere make many Internet users addicted to searching. But addiction notwithstanding, search has become indispensable in the contemporary World. But remember for blogs and website owners the traffic on SERP will always be limited to the number of people making a search unlike in social participation posts can go viral and cross over millions of visitors.
Google It!
Well, this is so true! People spend a good time enlightening themselves to find the information provided by Google the largest database that comprises billions of websites and blogs with answers or information. Unlike social participation where interest is the main purpose search is based entirely on intent.
No Wonder! The indexing and ranking algorithms have made Google store billions of information in their database that can be retrieved in milliseconds.
What is Social?
Well, social is participating in online communities on social media sites, interactive blogging with huge followers, and being successful on Internet publishing sites and their communities and forums to explain as shortly as possible.
The most popular social media sites are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. Social Media is an indulgence but not always users post interesting content on their feeds and groups online to make a community.
Social search is thus more focused on a niche particular to that platform. Hence presence on social media is instinctive. Rarely planned except by content marketers. The content does excite and attract visitors or target audiences on the social sites which is why they have active users of over a billion or millions.
While long-form content is available on search, social media sites are flooded with audio and visuals mostly images, infographics, and videos. One advantage of going social is its capability for a post to go viral.
Social Media offers better conversion opportunities due to conversation possibilities in communities, and visual presentations. Hence sites like Amazon and eBay to name a few have become major merchandising portals.
Taking part in online communities on social media is like living in a virtual world. The connections are far beyond your reach and only communication and content let you understand them. Immense reach and niche community formations are the main features of Social participation. This is unlike search where you accumulate knowledge, discover interesting platforms and find solutions to your problems.
