“Social media is the ultimate equalizer. It gives a voice and a platform to anyone willing to engage.”
Social Media Marketing is one of the world’s fastest and most affordable ways to grow your business. The ability to stay on top of trends, while navigating the perils and dangers of Social Media can be challenging, but if executed correctly can also reap massive benefits. You should know which Social Media tools make a difference, which are overrated, and which are best designed for your company.
The BEST Social Media Platforms.
Facebook for example, is the largest and leading social media platform. Facebook offers both free and paid paths to success. It is also a quick way to get your business visible on search engines. Search engines like Google can easily find Facebook pages, and will frequently update their search results to include you. Having your business show up on a search looks professional and reassuring. Facebook offers the ability to create company and group pages. It also allows employers and employees to connect socially. Facebook boasts around 2 billion active users and can be a great tool if utilized correctly.
Youtube is the next biggest social media platform. With millions of videos uploaded daily, it provides a way for companies to view and post content freely. Youtube also helps with video embed codes for websites. The only downsides to Youtube are that the videos always public, and that the clients you are attempting to reach may not frequently watch videos. The plus side is that Youtube videos come up easily in search engine results. Videos can look professional if done right and Youtube has a number of built-in tools to help.
Coming in with about half as many users is Instagram. Instagram allows for the quick sharing of photos. Users can gain a following quickly by uploading on a regular basis. Instagram was also built for mobile use, so it works very well on almost every device. The only downside for companies is that you may not have a use for photo sharing.
Next on the list is Twitter. Twitter is like a mix between Facebook & Instagram. You can post “tweets” filled with a limited amount of text and other content. You can link pages of your website, share videos, and gain a following. You can also connect and follow other companies and groups. Twitter was also made with phones in mind, so it’s again very easy to use on any device. The best thing about twitter though is the integration of #hashtags. Including hashtags in your post will make it show up on new pages with other posts like it. Then people can click the hashtag to stumble upon “tweets” that they would not normally see. Granted Facebook does this too, but Twitter does it better. Twitter is also one of the easier sites to gain a following on. Frequently interacting with other members will gain attention and gain you traction.
Google+ is an interesting and less used tool. It is again a mix of these other platforms but will present you with posts from other companies without you asking. This is good for advertising, but the truth is that far fewer people use Google+. Perks are that it’s easy to manage, and is connected to Youtube. Google+ can be thrown onto any marketing plan with ease, and can even just be a rehash of things you post elsewhere.
LinkedIn: “400 million+ members. Manage your professional identity. Build and engage with your professional network. Access knowledge, insights, and opportunities.” Their quote says it all. This website is a great tool for connecting with other professionals. It will automatically recommend people you may know and ask you to “connect” with them. Upon doing so you will be able to visit profiles and pages of people they know. As you gain “connections” you can see more people. For businesses, LinkedIn offers both free and paid company pages. They have several advertising plans and ways for you to attract both clients and employees. LinkedIn comes in at the bottom of this list with “just” 106 million daily users.
Social Media is always evolving.
These social media platforms have been the leaders over the past couple of years. They are running strong and have the convenience of being free to use. I would recommend all of these platforms depending on the company. They all have their unique quirks and provide a fresh way for you to share your message with the world. Having a variety of platforms to post on is also important. Sign up is free so the only thing they can cost you is time.
