IT contractors helping firms with the search engine optimisation of their website can no longer afford to ignore social media, an expert claims.

According to Marc Engelsman, vice-president of client programmes and services at Digital Brand Expressions (DBE), social media now has a major influence in the workings of search engines.

"It is hard to say exactly how much more of a role social media will play over the next year, but the velocity of its influence over the past year is undeniable," he said.

Mr Engelsman goes on to say that 72 per cent of the companies that responded to DBE's survey are already using social media tactics for their SEO.

There could be plenty of website-related work out there for IT contractors, as a recent study by the Internet Advertising Bureau found that only 37 per cent of brands think that their corporate website meets their marketing needs.