The 2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report stated that 85% of all businesses that have a dedicated social media platform as part of their marketing strategy reported an increase in their brand awareness.
We all know that social media can significantly impact a business but selecting the right platform can be a little tricky. Sure you could just jump on the most popular ones because that’s what everyone else is doing, but that may not yield you the best results.
Social media is about relationship building and in order for that to happen you need to figure out where your target market is spending most of their time. Which platforms are they visiting the most and why are they spending time there?
The most popular social media platform is Facebook. Some reports show that this social media giant has close to a billion users, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is right for your business. Facebook has a community atmosphere and isn’t ideal for a company that pushes the hard sell method. Facebook users love sharing great experiences, awesome offers and useful tips.
Another example would be using LinkedIn for your business. This platform is perfect for companies that sell B2B services or products. LinkedIn is a social networking site that was designed with professionals in mind. Many LinkedIn users use the site to network, get leads and even bounce ideas off of each other. LinkedIn allows users to form groups where they can share ideas and help each other grow.
Another great platform for business owners is Twitter. Facebook may have the edge in popularity, but more Fortune 500 companies are using Twitter. Twitter posts are limited to short 140 character posts (aka tweets). This is great for business owners that need to make a quick announcement as well as interact with followers.
For business owners that want to be a bit more visual, platforms like Instagram, Tumblr or Pinterest may be a good fit. These platforms focus on pictures. This is great for companies that have products or demos to showcase. Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest have grown in popularity largely due to the success of their mobile apps. Smartphone and tablet users are able to post pictures with their phones and tablets from anywhere making it very accessible.
One problem that many business owners run into is trying to have a presence on every platform they find. This can be a recipe for disaster. A good rule of thumb is to not join more social media platforms than you can effectively manage. It’s better to have one (1) social media platform that you can update regularly than to have five (5) that you haven’t been on in months.
Which social media platform has been successful for your business? We would love to hear your experiences and success stories.
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