Which Social Media Network is Right For You?
The exact future of Social Media may be unknown, but one this is for sure, it has definite advantages for your business. Deciding which sites to begin using depends on your specific business. I recently read Zachary Sniderman’s article on Mashable.com which provides great insight as to which networks go best with certain business types and target markets.
Here’s a breakdown:
Explanation: With the emphasis on current and past work data, LinkedIn works well for B2B companies and other business related ventures. The information available in LinkedIn is valuable for pre-qualifying possible prospects.
Example: A software development could use LinkedIn to sort by people in that industry and find good leads.
Explanation: When Facebook changed how users input profile information, it became much easier for businesses to target a specific type of consumer. Facebook also allows businesses to create mutual value between them and consumers by creating interaction and awareness.
Example: A Spanish restaurant posts a sangria recipe to provide value to the customer while also communicating the restaurant’s Spanish-centric brand.
Explanation: Creating a large, loyal following can translate to creating a large, loyal customer base, and many of the techniques employed on Twitter easily cross over to other methods of marketing.
Example: Just as you would instruct your employees to tell customers about a current special or discount, you can communicate the same message on Twitter, but to hundreds more people.
Foursquare
Explanation: While it’s one of the newest to hit the social media scene, Foursquare definitely has potential. With its emphasis on geo-location, Foursquare leverages the mobile phone community as a marketing tool. Customers check in on their phones and tell all of their friends about their experience at a business immediately via email, Facebook, and Twitter.
Example: A restaurant offers a special on Foursquare for checking in to the venue. As a result, the customer receives a % off the total or a discounted menu item.
The best part about social media sites is that they are not mutually exclusive, and it is likely that your business can benefit from several different sites. So get active now, before too much time passes! Worried about having the time to dedicate to social media? Many marketing companies are now offering social media management and marketing as a service!
