Close to 80 percent of small business are using social media. However, the question is are they using it the right way? Truth be told most of them are not. This is because most small businesses try to use all of the social media sites. This is a big mistake.
As a matter of fact, before you even set up social media accounts you should take the time to find out which one will work best for your business. Below I am going to share with you 6 of the top social media sites for businesses to use. The key is to do more research to find out which one will benefit your business the most.
Instagram:
Over the last couple of years Instagram has picked up a lot of steam. It is a social sharing app that allows you to share photos quickly and easily. If your audience is the twenty something crowd this is a good social media site for you to use. Some businesses that can benefit from this site include hotels, fitness professionals, restaurants, travel companies and much more.
According to SumAll, a top analytics company, an Instagram follower is worth 10 times as much as a Twitter follower. That alone should tell you how valuable it can be to post interesting photos for all to see. The one downfall to Instagram is they don’t let you link your photos to your website.
However, there is a simple way around this. Connect both your Twitter and Facebook account to your Instagram account. This way your photos will be cross posted. Be sure to post new pictures at least three times a month.
Pinterest:
Pinterest is very similar to Instagram in that its all about posting pictures. On Pinterest it is known as pinning. And if you have a predominately female audience this is the place you need to be. Travel companies, weight loss companies and manufacturers can benefit greatly from this site.
The key is to practice good SEO. Be sure to use keywords when you title your boards. You should also fill out the description section. Always remember social media sites are just like search engines.
People use the search boxes to find what they are looking for. That’s why it is so important you use the right keywords and phrases to name your boards. Never post copyrighted pictures on the site. Only post pictures you own and have the rights to.
YouTube:
Video has literally taken over the world. Over 1 billion unique visitors visit YouTube every month. That alone should tell you why this is a social media site you should be using for your business. YouTube is all about posting valuable videos that people will learn from, find entertaining or both. And don’t worry, the videos don’t need to be anything fancy.
As long as your content is good you can get away with a powerpoint slide show. Youtube is one of those social media sites just about any business can benefit from. From lawyers, to musicians, to doctors to chefs.
To get started make a list of the top 10 most asked questions you get. Now record yourself, or a powerpoint presentation, answering those questions. Make sure you optimize your videos by using keywords in the title and the description. This is very important as YouTube videos show up in the search engines.
The key is to keep your videos short and to the point. Try to keep your videos under two minutes. Each video should address only one issue. Also make sure you have a call to action at the end of all of your videos. This is how you will drive traffic to your website or blog.
LinkedIn:
LinkedIn is one of those social media sites that isn’t for every business. It is basically one big pool of resumes. If you are looking to hire new employees or you are trying to reach potential clients, this is a good site to use. It is the perfect platform for B2B companies.
Start off by building relationships with those who have the potential to be good hires. Join a group or two that relates to your market or industry. The idea is to show your expertise or knowledge by answering questions and starting conversations. Avoid constantly pitching your products or services.
Twitter:
Twitter became popular for its 140 characters or less idea. It is a great platform to announce special events or specials. To get the most out of it you will need to spend at least an hour a week reading messages and retweeting some of your followers. You should also post something valuable every so often.
One simple way to get the ball rolling with Twitter is to use the hashtag symbol and the advanced search feature to find questions your target audience is asking. Take the time to answer a few of those questions. This is how you will build a loyal group of followers. By answering questions and engaging your followers they will be more likely to visit your website and see what you have to offer.
Never, and I do mean never, have your tweets automatically go out. Before you retweet something take the time to read it to make sure it is something you actually want to share. Also make sure you only spend a couple of hours a week on Twitter engaging your audience. It is very easy to get sucked into Twitter and spend hours doing absolutely nothing.
Facebook:
Last on my list of top 6 social media sites is none other than Facebook. They are without a doubt the world’s largest and most popular social network. Facebook is all about sharing. And just like YouTube, it is a social media site all businesses can benefit from. Anytime you post something on Facebook, or any social media site for that matter, make sure it is something of value.
Share information you know your audience can connect to. Never use your fanpage as a place to advertise. It is a place to build relationships and generate leads. And while it may be tempting, try not to get into a lengthy back and forth with any of your followers. Things can quickly turn ugly and it can backfire on your company.
Source :http://socialmediamarketing.tips
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