Which social media channels are right for you?
There is a plethora of social channels for your business out there but that doesn't mean that all of them are right for your business. Creating your online presence can be extremely overwhelming especially when you are first starting your business. This guide will help you figure out where to start in building your brand online. The sheer amount of apps and services can make choosing the right ones difficult. Here is a simple guide to help you decide if your business should be using these platforms. Tip: It is important to note that you need to have the time to maintain these profiles. Not having a profile is better than having one that hasn't been updated since 2014. Remember, every business is different and what works for others may not work for you.
Social media marketing for business pages revolves around furthering your conversation with audiences by posting industry-related articles, images, videos, etc. Most businesses can benefit from using Facebook and is a good starting point for any business just starting out.
Twitter is the social media marketing tool that lets you broadcast your updates across the web. Twitter is a great way to give followers industry tips and tricks and follow trends in the industry. Twitter will be extremely helpful in service industry businesses such as real estate, marketing agencies, and finance.
Instagram allows people to get a personal look at what your business does. Sharing inviting imagery helps to shape your brand. Businesses can use instagram for any number of purposes, such as sharing products, holding contests and giving customers an inside look at their activities.
Google+
On Google+ you can upload and share photos, videos, links, and view all your +1s. You can also host video conferences with Hangouts and experiment using the Hangout feature in some fun, creative ways. If you're a boutique, host a how-to session on how to put together an outfit. If you are an author, try offering video chats about your latest book. Google+ Communities will allow you to listen into your fan's feedback and input, and help you become more integrated with customers.
Yelp/ Foursquare
These sites allows you to claim your business. Its is important to remember the volatile nature of the users of these platforms. As they have their phones in hand at all times, the degree of reviews of your business can vary. Brick and mortar businesses such as restaurants or boutiques are the best suited to use Yelp or Foursquare.
Pinterest is a more specialized network that may not work for everyone. It's primary users are women or those DIY projects, fashion, exercise, beauty, photography and food. Pinterest's image-centered platform is ideal for retail. Pinterest allows small businesses to showcase their own product offerings while also developing their own brand's personality with some unique pinboards.
LinkedIn is one of the more professional social media marketing sites. LinkedIn Groups is a great venue for entering into a professional dialog with people in similar industries and provides a place to share content with like-minded individuals.
Snapchat
If you're not familiar with the app, here's what you need to know: a person or brand on Snapchat can send photos and videos to their friends and followers. These Snaps can then be viewed for up to 10 seconds before they disappear. Snapchat offers several different paid marketing options to meet the specific goals of your business. You can create a clever Snap Ad, build a fun Sponsored Geofilter, or give your potential customers an opportunity to interact with a Sponsored Lens. Snap Chats are a great way to catch the attention of your ideal audience.
Youtube
YouTube is the number one place for creating video content, which can be powerful marketing tool. Instructive videos are an effective way to engage customers. In addition, these how-to videos have the added benefit of being displayed on the video search results of Google.
