Social media is a great tool to engage with people and other businesses, but knowing the right way to use it is important. The best way to make sure you choose the one that’s right for you and/or your business, is to learn about the different social media platforms.
Social Media takes up time. You can get lost in the social media-sphere for hours taking in new content and interacting with people and businesses, so if you are using it for business; make sure to set a schedule, set aside time specifically for social media. Before jumping into every social media platform make sure you have the time and resources to use them. If the purposes of your social media efforts are to engage with potential customers of your business, it is smart to do some research and find out which social media platforms your potential customers are using. You don’t want to be spending your time on Pinterest if none of your customers are there.
For businesses just starting out on social media, the best road to take might be to create a company page on LinkedIn, if your goal is network, make connections and be in a realm of other professionals. LinkedIn has many groups you can join, or you can create your own.
If you’re looking for another route, Facebook and Twitter are good options, as they’re fairly simple to learn and update. Facebook and Twitter have a more casual audience than LinkedIn.
Whichever platform you choose to start using, make sure you don’t spread yourself too thin. I wouldn’t recommend starting them all at once. Choose one or two to begin, and make sure you have the time to post relevant content, share articles, answer questions, etc.
Stay organized. If you have a limited amount of time to use social media platforms, I suggest creating a social media calendar. This will help you stay on track, schedule topics you want to post about or discuss each week, and keep you from falling behind on posting. You can even set a reminder in your calendar that will alert you when it’s time to post or join conversations.
Keep in mind when you are posting to choose a tone of voice that is right for your company. It is best to keep your social media platforms branded to match your business, staying visually consistent on each social media platform is important. The look, feel and tone of the social media platform should be an extension from your website.
You can do this. Social media may seem like a daunting task, but if you start slow and have a plan, building your online community will be easier. Do some research and learn what your readers want to see, and it can be as easy as giving them more of that content. When you share things that matter to your customers, readers, or potential clients, there is a higher chance that they will return and engage with you more often.
If you're already using social media, what is your favorite platform, and why?