Social Media Marketing – The new “word of mouth” through technology, but which platform do you use for your business?

Social Media has changed the way people communicate. Information is now shared and discovered more and more through social media… But what does it all mean? And with so many platforms out there – which is the best to market your business online?
Social Media is the technology that connects people – to either share content or simply chat with friends. Social Networks are the places where these interactions occur and they are growing at a rapid rate. The questions many clients ask us is which networks should you use for your business..

Our answer is that you can't go past the top three...

 

Facebook
Unless you have been living under a rock – you have heard about Facebook. It's a dominant force in the social media realm with over one billion users, and more likely many of your customers and prospects use it. Facebook is ideal because its user profile connects across ages, races and locations making it the best known and most socially used network in the world. The beauty of Facebook is that it is easy for people to share and like people's posts. The content on Facebook is interesting and diverse; people sharing their experiences and thoughts through short posts, photos or video. Facebook users are connecting with businesses and other organisations, making it a number one choice for businesses' communication, brand awareness and engagement with its customer base.

 

Twitter
Whilst it's the “in thing” for celebrities to “tweet” their thoughts and opinions online, Twitter is not just for the celebrity crowd. Since its launch, Twitter has evolved into a useful and celebrated tool for small businesses for communication with customers. Twitter is ranked as one of the top 10 most visited websites and allows people to share and use information they find interesting. They can post articles, news posts, promotions, and jokes – however you only have 140 characters to do so. By following someone on Twitter you can see all of their posts and easily share them with people who “follow” you. The fact that you can only use 140 characters means that your content is key and messages can spread quickly. Twitter has the ability to bring new audiences to your business that traditional marketing avenues may not be able to do.

 

Linked In
Created in 2002 Linked In has built the world's largest professional network on the Internet with over 175 million members in over 200 countries and territories. It's great for connecting people professionally .It is more for business profiles and its social media is a home base for many B2B organisations. Linked In users create professional connections based on their interests and experience. There are group discussions and question forums based on industry areas. You can also share your relevant industry news and events. This social network is a great way to establish professional connections and give you advice for running your business and promote the value of your company to your customers.

 

Other popular choices include…

 

You Tube
YouTube is a video-sharing website that allows users to upload, view, and share videos. Available content includes video clips, TV clips, music videos, and other content such as video blogging, short original videos, and educational videos. Billions of people go to this site to discover, watch, learn and share originally created videos.
Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, but media corporations including CBS, the BBC, Vevo, Hulu, and other organizations offer some of their material via YouTube, as part of the YouTube partnership program. Unregistered users can watch videos, and registered users can upload videos to their channels. Depending on your type of business and business product, this social media platform may be of benefit.

 

Google +
Google has described Google+ as a “social layer” that enhances many of its online properties, and that it is not simply a social networking website, but also a production tool that associates web-content directly with its owner and/or author. It is the second-largest social networking site in the world after Facebook. 540 million monthly active users are part of the Identity service site. By interacting socially with Google+'s enhanced properties, you can segment your contacts and share what you want with the people that you want.

 

 Pinterest
Pinterest is a free website, which requires registration to use. Users can upload, save, sort, and manage images-known as pins-and other media content (e.g., videos and images) through collections known as pinboards. Pinterest acts as a personalized media platform where users can browse the content of others on the main page. Users can then save individual pins to one of their own boards using the “Pin It” button. Pinboards are typically organized by a central topic or theme and users can personalize their experience with Pinterest by pinning items, creating boards, and interacting with other members. By doing so, the users “pin feed” displays and create unique, personalized results. The beauty of this site in terms of business marketing is that it is focused on the collection of other people's content, not necessarily the storing of your own. It is most suited for product or image driven businesses.

 

What's important is that you set yourself goals and understand what you want to achieve from your social media marketing efforts. There is no one size fits all answer but it's important to stay on top of the current social networks out there. A website is no longer enough in today's world. Your business social media platform represents your company in the eyes of internet browsers and buyers. A social networking platform makes your company look more legitimate and is a must – have for business. At the very least it increases brand recognition and helps drive traffic to your website. It can lead more customers to consider your product or service however it is important to acknowledge that real social media marketing takes dedication, time and resources. The reality is that not everyone has the time, focus or understanding to get the most from their social media platforms, let alone know which one is the best choice for their business. Central Coast Web Design understand the importance and benefit of a social media networks to help market businesses. Contact us today for a look at our social media packages and see how we can increase your business so you are meeting your full potential in the social media realm.