How to Use Social Media for Marketing: Know Your Platform

A brief overview of how to use social media for marketing each platform’s unique environment. Social media marketing sites will require different techniques, so develop a unique strategy tailored for each platform. Create great looking ads that represent your brand. Keep in mind your target customers or clients.

Facebook marketing

Facebook’s casual, friendly environment requires an active social media marketing strategy that begins with creating a Facebook Business Fan Page.  You will want to pay careful attention to layout, as the visual component is a key aspect of the Facebook experience. Social media marketing for business pages revolves around furthering your conversation with audiences by posting industry-related articles, images, videos, etc. Facebook is a place people go to relax and chat with friends, so keep your tone light and friendly.

Google+ marketing

Google+ is the new Facebook competitor, and it promotes the same fun, casual atmosphere. On Google+ you can upload and share photos, videos, links, and view all your +1s. Take advantage of Google+ circles. They allow you to segment your followers into smaller groups, enabling you to share information with some followers while barring others. For example, you might try creating a “super-fan” circle, and share special discounts and exclusive offers only with that group. Try hosting video conferences with Hangouts and experiment using the Hangout feature in some fun, creative ways.
Marketing ideas: if you’re a salon, host a how-to session on how to braid your hair. A local bookstore, try offering author video chats. Feeling adventurous, invite your +1s to your Google+ Community. Google+ Communities will allow you to listen into your fan’s feedback and input, truly putting the social back into social media.

Pinterest marketing

Pinterest is the latest in social media marketing trends. Pinterest’s image-centered platform is ideal for retail, but anyone can benefit from using Pinterest for social media purposes. Pinterest allows small businesses to showcase their own product offerings while also developing their own brand’s personality with some unique pin boards.

Twitter marketing

Twitter is the social media marketing tool that lets you broadcast your updates across the web. Follow tweeters in your industry or related fields, and you should gain a steady stream of followers in return. Mix up your official-related tweets about specials, discounts, and news updates with some fun and quirky tweets interspersed. Be sure to retweet when a customer has something nice to say about you, and don’t forget answer people’s questions when possible.  Using Twitter as a social media marketing tool revolves around dialog and communication, so be sure to interact as much as possible.

LinkedIn marketing

LinkedIn is one of the more professional social media marketing sites. LinkedIn Groups is a great venue for entering a professional dialog with people in similar industries and provides a place to share content with like-minded individuals. Encourage customers or clients to give your business a recommendation on your LinkedIn profile. Recommendations makes your business appear more credible and reliable for new customers. Also, browse the Questions section of LinkedIn; providing answers helps you get established and earns trust.

YouTube marketing

YouTube is the number one place for creating video content. Videos can be an incredibly powerful social media marketing tool. Many businesses try to create video content with the aim of having their video “go viral,” but those chances are slim. Focus on creating useful, instructive “how-to” videos. How-to videos add benefit of ranking on the video search results of Google. Don’t under-estimate the power of video content!