Social media marketing is an essential skill for any modern small business to master. With billions of people using the top social media sites in the world, it can be an ideal opportunity to extend the reach of any brand.
What are the top social media sites?
The top social media sites are:
- Google+
- Snapchat
- Tumblr
- YouTube
Each has their own “rules of the road” and types of followers. Depending on which niche or industry the business is related to, some will be better than others.
Facebook
is by far the most successful, with nearly 2 billion registered accounts and 1
billion regular users per month. It might have the reputation of being
old-fashioned compared with Instagram and Snapchat, both very popular with the
18 to 30 market, but it is still very active and even the younger demographic
will usually have an account to connect with family.
Facebook has a well-developed advertising program which allows users to create ads in different formats, such as for traffic, or for lead generation to get subscribers. Compared with Google Ads, it is easy to use, more affordable and very targeted. The ads are also native, looking like content, rather than an ad.
Twitter has similar free and paid marketing opportunities. All you have to do is tweet up to 280 characters. It’s a good way to tell keep your followers updated in your business.
Google+
Google+
is popular with foodies, techies and photographers, so any business with a
highly visual product line related to those niches could market well here.
Pinterest
is completely image-driven, and dominated by women. These women are also
shoppers, with more than 50% buying items they see there. Pinterest pins also
last a great deal longer than other social media posts.
Instagram
and Snapchat
Instagram
and Snapchat are also image-driven. In this case, the image or video stays as a
story for 24 hours after your follower sees it, unless you pin it to the top of
your account. Instagram is owned by Facebook, and you can cross-post your ads
in both systems, which can save time and money. Instagram and Snapchat allow
companies to create stores right at the site, so if you sell things of interest
to 18 to 30 year olds, you need to set up stores.
LinkedIn
is following Facebook’s lead in many respects. The functionality is similar,
but the audience is different. LinkedIn is the only major business to business
social network, targeting professionals and allowing you to make connections
with people in your current job, and past jobs and schools. You can also forge
connections based on mutual interests, such as a niche or industry.
Tumblr
Tumblr
is similar to Facebook in terms of the different kinds of posts you are allowed
to publish, such as images and video. Thus far, it does not run ads. Around
one-third of its users are international, so this is a good network to focus on
if you want to connect with potential customers overseas.
YouTube
YouTube is the largest video sharing site in the world, and a search engine in its own right. Starting a YouTube channel with useful content related to a specific niche can secure subscribers, sales, and connections with one’s target audience.
The post Social Media Marketing appeared first on Influence.com | Connecting Innovative Brands with Creative Influencers Around the World.
