How to Make Your Social Media Profiles Pop: SEO Tips for Better Visibility

by Hope Joy Owens

As a marketer at Mansell Media, I’ve had the privilege of helping businesses across industries improve their social media presence. One thing I’ve noticed is that many business owners overlook the power of optimizing their social media profiles. These profiles aren’t just placeholders—they’re key tools for driving engagement and attracting new customers.

Whether you’re running a local gym or any other small business, a few simple tweaks can make your social media profiles work harder for you. Let’s use a local fitness center as an example and explore actionable tips you can implement today.

1. Optimize Your Bio with Keywords

Your profile bio is prime real estate for keywords that describe your business and services. Think of it as your elevator pitch. Your bio should quickly tell your audience who you are and what you do, while also helping your profile show up in search results. Think about the keywords potential customers are most likely to search for. 

For example, a gym in Madison, MS, might optimize its Instagram bio like this:“Madison’s top gym for strength and fitness | Personal training, group classes, and open gym | Join us today ”

Including keywords like “Madison gym” and “personal training” makes it easier for people to find you when searching for fitness-related services. As a marketer, I recommend that all businesses use the space wisely by incorporating location and service-specific keywords.

2. Use Links Strategically

The link in your bio is an invaluable tool. It’s often the only place where you can direct followers to a specific call-to-action, so make it count.

For a local gym, linking to a membership sign-up page, class schedule, or an introductory offer is a great idea. Alternatively, if you have multiple links you want to share, using tools like Linktree or Canva allows you to consolidate them all into one link. If you have a website, you can make a separate page designated for links as well.

These simple strategies can help streamline the user journey and guide potential customers toward making a purchase or signing up for services.

3. Post Strong Visuals

Social media is a visual medium, and your imagery should showcase the energy and values of your business. For a local gym, this might mean sharing images of fitness classes, gym equipment, or transformation stories from your members.

Your profile picture should be your logo, and your cover image (where applicable) should reflect the atmosphere and services you offer. Consistency in imagery across platforms will also help reinforce your brand identity.

By posting authentic, high-quality visuals, your gym can inspire potential customers to take action.

4. Add ALT Text to Your Posts

ALT text isn’t just for websites—it’s also available on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Whether it is on your website or social media, ALT text is an important tool for both accessibility and SEO. ALT text allows visually impaired users to understand your images, and it also helps search engines index your content.

For example, a gym post showing a personal trainer coaching a class might have ALT text like: “Personal trainer leading a high-energy group fitness class at a Madison gym.” This is descriptive, and it can improve the visibility of your post in search results.

By including ALT text, you not only make your content more accessible but also give your business a better chance to be found online.

5. Create and Use Branded Hashtags

Branded hashtags are a great way to build community and track user-generated content. For example, our local gym example might create a hashtag like #MadisonStrong to encourage members to share their fitness journeys.

Be sure to include hashtags related to your business or service category. Along with the gym's branded hashtag, they may include popular fitness-related hashtags such as #FitnessMotivation or #GymLife to increase the reach of their posts.

Branded hashtags help your audience engage with your business more easily while also allowing you to monitor content that is being shared about your gym.

Why It Matters

Optimizing your social media profiles can be a game changer for your business. It’s about more than just aesthetics—it’s about strategically positioning yourself to be found by the right audience. By using these simple SEO tactics, your business can increase visibility, engagement, and ultimately, customer acquisition.

These are just a few tips you can implement today to improve your social media profiles. Remember, small adjustments can lead to big results! If you need help navigating these strategies or want to dive deeper into your social media marketing plan, don’t hesitate to reach out. As a marketer at Mansell Media, I’m passionate about helping businesses like yours grow and succeed online.