You may be wondering “do I really need to have social media in order for my business to be as successful as possible?” The short answer is: Yes! Today’s world is a digital one and social media is a huge part of the online community. Every business should have some form of social media in order to stay engaged with their clients/customers and future prospects.
Think of your website as your home base and social media as the PR & Marketing representatives out in the world directing traffic to your business. Social media provides you with something very important called “Organic Reach”, which means the number of people who view your content without paid distribution. Whenever someone visits your social media page and views your content – watches a video, clicks a link to your website, shops your online store etc. – it is considered organic reach.
While it really depends on what kind of business you are operating as to which Social Media accounts you should have, every business should establish some social media accounts in order to stay engaged with their target audience. And the best part is signing up for them is free!
Here are a few of the top Social Media platforms and what each one is best used for:
1. Facebook
The forerunner of social media and probably the most well-known platform is Facebook. Users can sign-up for free and it is primarily used to create a profile, upload photos and videos, exchange direct messages and keep in touch with family & friends.
You can also create a page for your business which allows you to add your business’ contact information, upload photos and videos, post articles and Calls to Action (CTAs). However, the main thing your business will use Facebook for is running paid ads.
2. Instagram
Instagram is an entirely visual platform. Unlike Facebook, which relies on both text and pictures, Instagram’s sole purpose is to enable users to share images or videos with their audience.
When your business shares visually appealing content you capture the attention of your audience and prospective clients/customers. It is a much more casual and fun atmosphere than Facebook and allows you to give your audience an up close and personal look at your business through Instagram stories. You can set up links in your profile bio to your website and online store, share discounts, promote sales or your team culture, etc.
3. LinkedIn
This platform is known as the world’s largest professional network and that’s exactly what it’s primarily used for; professional networking, employers can post jobs and job seekers can post their resumes. Use this social media platform to make important connections and expand your knowledge of the skills you need to succeed in your career.
4. Twitter
Twitter allows users to read stories and comments regarding today’s biggest news and events. It has gained popularity since it went public in 2013 and has been consistently named one of the most popular social media networks of teenagers in the US. Users can follow people or companies that post content they enjoy, or use it to simply communicate with friends. Additionally, PR teams and marketers will use Twitter to increase brand awareness and engage their audience.
5. Pinterest
Pinterest is a visual discovery engine for finding ideas like recipes, home and style inspiration, and more. With billions of Pins on Pinterest, you’ll always find ideas to spark inspiration. When you discover Pins you love, save them to boards to keep your ideas organized and easy to find. (Source: www. pinterest.com)
Businesses can use this platform to create boards that showcase their team culture and interests or to share inspirational quotes or photographs.
So there you have it! If you don’t already have your business connected on any Social Media networks then we recommend you get this set up as soon as possible. If you don’t yet have the resources to hire a Social Media Content Manager don’t worry about it. Just get yourself set up on the applicable networks for your business and start creating content. Once you have the wherewithal we do highly recommend searching out a Social Media Content Manager to curate content and manage all your channels for you.
Social Media is the most cost effective to drive organic traffic to your website and business. Investing in Social Media for your business is time and resources well spent!
If you’re having trouble coming up with a strategy for your website and want to generate and convert more leads contact us. Take advantage of our FREE website analysis and 20 minute consultation. Talk to one of our web experts and get real advice on how to make your website work for you.
