From likes on Facebook to brand mentions on Twitter, social media can boost your search engine rankings.

It’s no secret that if people aren’t talking about you, you aren’t relevant, but this is especially true online where search engines use social chatter as a part of their ranking algorithm.

But it isn’t enough to merely have a Facebook page or a Twitter account where you promote yourself to no one.

You have to engage an audience and interact with them. It’s your audience who shares your content beyond your wall or your feed with their networks, and it’s that sharing that determines how relevant you are.

But don’t just take my word for it. Jonathan Lawoyin wrote in an article at Marketing Profs that “getting real SEO results these days requires not only a technically optimized website and relevant inbound links, but also a strong, vibrant Web presence that supports your overall brand.”

He also recommends using keywords and historical data in social spaces to drive content development and take advantage of seasonal trends.

So, take to your social pages, share relevant content, and stay engaged with your audience and you’ll likely see ranking dividends improve.