"Social Media Optimization" is a collection of strategies and tactics for marketing through social media sites such as del.icio.us, digg, flickr, and myspace. The goal is similar to Search Engine Optimization, but the focus is on increasing the chances that people will pass along your content, message, or site along to other people through social networking and sharing tools.

The term "Social Media Optimization" was coined by Rohit Bhargava on his blog, Influential Interactive Marketing, and much of the early conversation happened between him and the community of bloggers formed around his blog. A great resource in it's own right, Influential Interactive Marketing offers a wealth of practical tips and guidelines, often in the form of useful lists.