Facebook and Google are essential for SEO

Still not convinced that social and search are colliding? Well, get ready to get your mind changed.

A recent study from Experian Hitwise found that the top search term from Google for 2011 was “Facebook.” To top it off, “facebook login,” “facebook.com,” and “www.facebook.com” came in third place, fifth place, and eighth place, respectively.

Other keywords in the list include: YouTube, Craigslist, Yahoo, Ebay, and Mapquest.

The appearance of Yahoo in the top 10 list came as a surprise to many. However, given the great performance of Yahoo Mail this was inevitable.

Experts say that the research had one implication: Google and Facebook are the most frequently visited sites in the World Wide Web. This can have tremendous implications in search engine optimization, as good exposure and rankings in both sites can reel in lots of traffic—or potential revenue. The two sites are keys to profitability for online retailers.

While social marketing has strengthened its importance in SEO, MySpace has certainly become less relevant. The old social media site has been dwarfed by Facebook, which offers a host of features and functions that tickle the fancy of every online browser.

Apart from its significance in online social, Facebook has become a big part of the online marketing world. With more than 800 million users, it is a site that online marketers and retailers simply cannot ignore.