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20 May 2016

What is the right social media for you?

We hear it all the time from businesses; “People keep telling me I need to be on social media” And they're right, but it's not as bewildering as people make it out to be. Having a social media presence allows you to extend your audience reach, and only requires time and some daily effort to maintain. For those continuing to read on, we'll hazard a guess that you're struggling with social media, so to make your lives a little easier we'll discuss the top platforms to use and who largely uses them. It's best for new or small businesses to commit to a social media platform they can do well and produce quality content for, rather than attempt them all and burn out. 

Is Pinterest the right social media platform for you?
Pinterest

What
Pinterest is an online 'pinboard' that allows users to 'pin' images they've either found online or seen other users share. Great for research purposes, users often use Pinterest to find inspiration or build a collection of recipes or DIY ideas.

Who

It's a favourite for foodies, fashionistas, and DIY enthusiasts, among other hobbyists, and filled to the brim with wedding and party planning ideas. If you can take beautiful photos of your products, then Pinterest is a great tool to attract customers looking for the next 'cool' thing. Pinterest favours the aesthetics, so be wary that dull-looking images will probably not gain the popularity you're looking for.

When

Any time you have a new product, or have released an update to it, plug it into Pinterest with appropriate tagging. If users find it inspirational, then they'll share it to their network.

Is Instagram the right social media platform for you?
Instagram

What
Instagram is an online, mobile-only photo and video sharing network. It's often used as a fun way of sharing snapshots of your life to friends, family, and fans, and can be a fantastic tool to add human interaction to your company brand.

Who

As a mobile-only platform, it's instant, fast-paced, and ideal for reaching a generation of mobile-wielding teens and young adults. It's another favourite for foodies, fashion-fiends, and wanderlusters.  

When

Once a day is ideal, posting pictorial updates or fun clips advertising new releases to keep relevant, or to reach out and communicate with fans.

Is Facebook the right social media platform for you?
Facebook

What
Facebook is perhaps the most popular of them all, used mostly to keep in touch with friends and family. Every user has a feed, updated to follow events in real time and archive past events in a timeline. 

Who

With Facebook you can build the tone of your business through the content you post, and allow customers to reach out to you over social media for a direct dialogue. You can post almost anything, from sharing links and updates, to photos, videos and polls. 

When

Post at least once a week, trying out the different media options. For example, one week could be a post celebrating a staff member’s work anniversary, with the next week featuring a case study about a project your business has completed.

Is Twitter the right social media platform for you?
Twitter

What
Twitter is a microblogging platform, quick and fast paced, and limited to 140 character posts. The idea behind using Twitter is to post short and often. An easy way to do this is to post quick facts, snappy one-liners or updates to relate to your audience. For example, an accountant could tweet about a change to VAT, or a pub could tweet on Tuesday its their 'Curry Student' deal.

Who

Good for any business person that has a good sense of humour or can engage with people easily. Twitter is fast paced, so you'll need to be posting regularly. If you post the right content for your ideal customer it can be a great sales engine.

When

As much and you can! But learn from your engagement, try a range of different topics and ideas to see which ones your followers prefer.

Is YouTube the right social media platform for you?
YouTube

What
YouTube is a video-sharing website that allows users to upload video content. It can be a great tool for explaining or showing demos of your products and services.

Who

It's great for any company who needs to explain their product or service in detail, and reach a broad audience. Creativity is the key here: a fashion boutique for instance, could make use of YouTube to tease fashion shows or styling tips on how to wear their pieces, encouraging customer engagement. 

When

Try to post a new video at least twice a month and on schedule. Users who subscribe to your channel will regularly check back if you publish a schedule, so be realistic with how often you can post.

Is LinkedIn the right social media platform for you?
LinkedIn

What
A page that profiles the person within a business or the business itself. LinkedIn is the professional's Facebook, detailing career achievements, projects, and testimonials received.

Who

Ideal for a B2B business and crucial for anyone working in sales, human resources or management. It will be one of the first things a potential lead checks when starting a business relationship. Make sure you have as much information on there about yourself and your business as possible, including previous employment, as it will strengthen your credibility and experience in the eyes of potential partners. You can also connect with potential leads before you meet them to strengthen your network.

When

Whenever you meet a new business acquaintance you should add them on LinkedIn to build your professional network. You can also post or share blog articles through LinkedIn to build your professional credibility.

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  Tagged as : Selling Online, SEO