Welcome to the intriguing world of Dark Social, a mysterious place where B2B brands often find themselves navigating through a fog of hidden content sharing.

Dark Social refers to the under-the-radar sharing that happens via private messages, emails, and other elusive channels, hiding the true origins of content circulation. This veil of secrecy not only masks where sharing truly originates but also challenges marketers with incomplete data, creating hurdles in accurately tracking and analyzing marketing efforts.

But don’t worry, we’re here to guide you, in this blog, we’ll explore 5 effective SEO strategies B2B brands can adopt to conquer the mysterious territory of Dark Social.

Our Top Tips for Cracking Down on Dark Social:

1. Get Crafty with Shortened URLs and UTM Parameters: Shortened URLs make links more shareable and less cumbersome, while UTM parameters add specific tags to your URLs, allowing you to identify which campaign, medium, or source the traffic came from. Alas, you will finally get a clearer picture of your content’s reach and engagement, even when shared privately.

2. It’s time to get techy: Advanced analytics tools are vital for deciphering the complex web of traffic sources, especially when dealing with dark social. These platforms go beyond traditional analytics by employing sophisticated algorithms and methods to better classify and interpret traffic. They can crack patterns and user behaviors that suggest when traffic is likely originating from dark social. This deeper insight helps in understanding the hidden aspects of your audience’s sharing habits, allowing you to make more informed strategic decisions (and work smart not hard).

3. Optimize Your Website for Mobile Users: Ensure your website features responsive design, fast loading times, and easily navigable menus. A mobile-friendly website not only enhances the user experience but means users are more likely to use the built-in sharing buttons, which can be tracked, as opposed to copying and pasting the URL into a private message. Your users will thank you, and so will your CMO 😉.

4. Leverage Influencers: Influencers can mitigate the impact of dark social on SEO by promoting public sharing and engagement. By using trackable links, they provide better data insights and enhance the quality of direct traffic to websites. Their significant following increases brand visibility and recall, indirectly benefiting SEO through higher search volumes and brand interest. This is just one of the reasons we love working with influencers.

5. Email marketing can subtly diminish the effects of dark social. By embedding trackable links in your emails, you gain early insights into how recipients engage with your content — insights that remain valuable even if the content is later shared via dark social. Crafting emails with engaging content and clear calls-to-action, along with easy-to-use social media sharing options, nudges recipients towards interactions that are more trackable. It’s all about less mystery and more data.

Does it really matter?

In today’s digital landscape, it’s more crucial than ever for brands to get ahead of dark social. The rise of private messaging apps and the growing preference for privacy in online interactions mean that a significant portion of content sharing is becoming invisible to traditional analytics. By not addressing dark social, brands risk losing valuable insights into how their content is consumed and shared, leading to incomplete or skewed marketing strategies.

Implementing the strategies outlined above can make a huge difference for your brand. They provide a more comprehensive understanding of your audience’s behavior, allow for more precise targeting and personalization, and ultimately lead to more effective and efficient marketing efforts. At Xtra Mile, we believe that staying ahead of trends like dark social is not just about keeping pace; it’s about seizing opportunities to engage with your audience in deeper, more meaningful ways.

So, say NO to untraceable content today and stop losing your all-important data! At Xtra Mile we can walk you through the world of dark social and make sure your content is getting the recognition it deserves.