Social Media Made Easy

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard of the cultural phenomenon that is social media. What exactly is social media? Well, it’s just as the name implies; it is the technology platform for people to socially interact with one another. Users leverage social media to stay in touch with family and friends, form new relationships, become part of communities, promote a business, and learn about new products/services.

There are a number of options to socialize; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest are among the most popular, but there are many more. Each is unique in its offerings and native language, and many people use more than one platform to communicate and gather information. More than a billion people across the world are active on social media, making it an effective method of reaching and engaging with your target consumer.

With so many options available, where and how can your business get started using social media? It may be easier than you think!

Understand your ideal customer. What is their demographic make up? Where do they live? What is their annual income? Are they single, married, in a relationship? What do they like to do for fun? Having this information will help you choose which social media network to spend your time in, and how to engage with your audience. Keep your ideal customer in mind as we briefly discuss the most popular social media platforms.

Facebook is by far the number one social media site with more than one billion monthly users. According to an October article in the Washington Post, “almost as many people use Facebook as live in the entire country of China.” Half of the world’s internet users are active on Facebook almost daily! What does this mean for your business?  That your customers are definitely using Facebook in some way. If you haven’t done so already, create a Facebook Business Page and start inviting everyone you know to like your page. We will discuss content tips later in this article.

Twitter boasts close to a quarter of a billion users who send 500 million tweets per day. Tweets are 140 characters or less, and many contain searchable hashtags. You can use Twitter’s search engine to find people who are talking about topics related to your business and join the conversation, adding your own informative perspective. It is easy to create a Twitter profile for your business, and you can begin searching for topics and socializing with prospective clients immediately.

Users on LinkedIn are mainly professionals looking to network, gather information, post articles, and search for employment opportunities. LinkedIn boasts more than 330 million users in over 200 countries and territories, with recent college graduates being the fastest growing demographic. Create your LinkedIn business page and position yourself as an industry expert with insightful blogs and posts.

Since its launch in October 2010, Instagram is the fastest-growing social media platform with more than 300 million users. Instagram is the medium for authentic pictures and 30-second videos that tell a personal story about your business. Similar to Twitter, hashtags are a popular way to communicate, and in fact, NEED to be used in order to get traction. Hashtags should be descriptive and they cannot be over-used. Since Instagram is a closed loop in that you cannot embed a hyperlink into your photo, hashtags are how your audience will find you.

Are women your target customer? Then get on Pinterest now! Of the site’s 70 million users, 80% are women and more than half of those women are mothers. Post photos and graphics that include an embedded hyperlink that will take users back to your company website. A great way to attract and connect to your audience is by creating boards that have a subtle relation to your brand.

Are you overwhelmed with options yet? Take a breath, think about the platforms that you are most familiar with, and start with one of those. Remember who your ideal customer is and create posts that speak to them. Check out 50 Expert Tips for Getting Started on Social Media for some pointers. Once you have picked your platform(s), read “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook” by Gary Vaynerchuk to make sure your message reaches your audience.

Instead of being fearful, embrace the phenomenon that is social media. Your business will thank you! To learn more about how to effectively market your business, download the white paper, Adopting a Marketing Mindset.