Let's look at the different social media platforms I can work on and what they're all about
Platforms
Google+
Google+ is a social networking and identity service owned and operated by Google Inc. It is the second largest social networking site in the world, having surpassed Twitter in January 2013. It has approximately 359 million active users.
Google+ business pages are similar to Facebook pages whereby:
* You can post text-only updates, photos, videos etc
* Hashtagging can be used
* Google+ suggests people and pages you might like to follow
* You can instant chat with other users
* You can Like posts, comment on them, share them and so on
Some of the benefits fo having a Google+ business page include:
* Less users = less competition. You don't want to be the one chasing after it once it is jam-packed of other people all trying to shout out their message. It's best to start building relationships while you can easily be heard.
* Google+ allows for more direct and personal relationships. While Facebook and Twitter start to get cluttered with miscellaneous info, Google Plus info is dominated by quality content that is professional and informational. Consumers like that. And appreciate.
* Unique functionality of hangouts (live video chats). Not only can you talk with your customers via text but now you can hold video talk sessions with them. What better way to see what they love about you and think you could improve upon. Big corporations spend thousands per year on marketing research. Now you can do it and all it will cost you is $20 for a webcam and some time.
* Potential big impact on search engine page results. Can you really tell me you don't want more shelf space on search engine page results? Do you really not want better visibility - for FREE? How many times have you said "Google it." Now multiply that by everyone else in the world, or at least the vast majority, and tell me you don't want another way to be found on Google.
Google+ for you...
In order to use Google+ for your business you'll need to create an account HERE, add information to your profile, start following a few other pages, then you can assign up to 50 Managers who are able to post on your behalf without needing to login as you.
Twitter is excellent for connecting with people who have similar interests. They say that people of today have very short attention span and so Twitter’s 140-character limit ensures that the attention of users would not be taxed to the breaking point.
Some of the benefits to using Twitter for business include:
* It’s a large market out there - Over 200 million people are using this microblogging platform. That’s larger than the population of most countries in the world. That is the market that is open to you once you start using Twitter. Of course not everyone there would be buying from you but that is the potential market for you.
* A closer connection - Perhaps the best benefit that your business can get out of using Twitter is that it would allow you to get connected and become closer with your customers. With the use of Twitter you can become a lot closer to customers and potential customers. With the simple act of replying directly to their tweets you can bring yourself closer and the people who saw that tweet would think better of your business.
* Keeps customers updated - The use of Twitter can also keep all of your customers updated as to the latest things that are taking place in your business. You can inform them directly of what it is that you are planning to do.
* Spying - This might sound more sinister than it really is. Knowing what your competition is up to is a legitimate business move. The use of Twitter is a simple and effective means of doing that. By following your competition’s Twitter account you can get a direct scoop. Of course that also means they would know what you are up to.
Twitter for you...
It's easy to create a Twitter account for your business. Simply visit the Twitter site HERE to create an account, add a profile picture (usually a business logo) and some basic information then off you go!
Twitter doesn't have an Admin or Manager option so the best way to allow someone else to use Twitter on your behalf is to open an account to use solely as your business, not for any personal tweeting. You would then give the login details to people you'd like to have access to the account. If you wish to use Twitter for your personal life, create a seperate account.
Facebook is the king of social networks and almost doesn’t need an introduction. You're probably already familar with Facebook anf most likely have a personal profile page or even a business page.
Some of the benefits to using Facebook for business include:
* Good for branding - Facebook is a great platform for creating a brand for your business or product. It can allow you to portray to your customers exactly what you want, and allows you to have control over the perception they have of your business or product.
* Engage your customers - Facebook allows you to connect directly with your customers, meaning you can entice them to get your product directly. You can engage them through different means such as promoting contests and promotions and events where you and your customers can be in contact.
* Online traffic - These days it's essential for businesses to have a website and Facebook allows you to drive traffic to your website by inluding links on your Facebook page.
* Manage the reputation of your business - Facebook makes it easier for you to manage the reputation your business has. It allows you to issue statements and can be a way of directly communicating with the customers. Customers have the ability to rate your page out of 5 stars and writing a recommendation that all of their friends will see. Customers can directly provide you with complaints, questions, feedback etc and you can just as easily respond.
* Attracting new customers - It's really easy to be spread around Facebook and you can take advantage of that in order to be promoted to a lot of new people, making it a great way to attract new customers to your business.
* Retain existing customers - Retaining existing customers is a lot easier than attracting new ones, so you have to do everything to keep the customers that you have. Facebook allows you to interact and engage with your existing customers who are active on this platform.
Facebook for you...
In order to use Facebook for your business you'll first need to create a personal Profile page. This is where you use Facebook to interact with friends and family, to Like pages etc. Once you have a Profile page you can then create a Page. A Page can be for a business, community group, and a variety of other things. The Page must be created while logged into a Profile, and whoever you wish to assign Admin of the Page needs to Like the Page, then you can assign them Admin by enterting their email address into your page settings. Page Admins can post on the Page on your behalf without needing to be logged in as you.
I can provide clear instructions on the process for creating a page and allocating Admins.
Instagram’s developers describe it as a “quirky,” “fun” and “beautiful” way to share photos; you can take a picture on your mobile device, apply a filter, then instantly push that content out to multiple social media channels simultaneously.
Using Instagram, business owners can instantly put a face to their business.
Some of the benefits to using Instagram for business include:
* Gain trust for your business - Personal photographs help to humanize your business and allows you to be more reachable to existing and potentional new customers. Once your gain your audience’s trust, they are more likely to purchase from you.
* Increase traffic to your website - By adding a description under photos and including a website address, adding your website to your profile, using relevent #hashtags and editing photos to display the website address... you can prompt people to visit your website.
* Higher user engagement - Instagram now has 100 million active users with 10 times more user engagement than Facebook and Twitter! This is because many people are visual learners. Users are able to quickly scroll through the feed and visually connect with what interests them. Instagram is quick, fast-paced and purely driven by mobile users. Lets face it, people are impatient; instead of reading posts, the images do all the talking for your business. Instagram allows you to easily connect with other users by Liking pictures and commenting underneath.
* Display professional-looking photosgraphs - Instagram has a variety of filters meaning you can easily edit each photo to make them appear more professional, more fun, classier, just about any perception you like! Create seemingly professional photos with the click of a button.
* Increase profits - In adition to gaining more traffic to your website, Instagram is an excellent platform for showcasing your products and can therefore lead to an increase in profits.
* Free advertising - Instagram is 100% free for all users. No matter where you are in the world you can take and upload photos via an app on your phone to display to existing and new followers. It's basically free and easy advertising!
Instagram for you...
As with Twitter, Instagram doesn't allow allocation of Admins or Managers. To enable someone else to take and display photos on your behalf it's best to create an Instagram account purely for your business then provide the login details to whoever you want using the account.
Pinterest is essentially a digital pin board, a place for collating and categorising anything visually appealing found online. It provides the opportunity for businesses to demonstrate expertise and credibility in any given area and can be used to add value, which is a great way of attracting new customers and increasing appeal to existing customers.
Some of the benefits to using Pinterest for business include:
* Good for branding - Facebook is a great platform for creating a brand for your business or product. It can allow you to portray to your customers exactly what you want, and allows you to have control over the perception they have of your business or product.
* Engage your customers - Facebook allows you to connect directly with your customers, meaning you can entice them to get your product directly. You can engage them through different means such as promoting contests and promotions and events where you and your customers can be in contact.
* Online traffic - These days it's essential for businesses to have a website and Facebook allows you to drive traffic to your website by inluding links on your Facebook page.
* Manage the reputation of your business - Facebook makes it easier for you to manage the reputation your business has. It allows you to issue statements and can be a way of directly communicating with the customers. Customers have the ability to rate your page out of 5 stars and writing a recommendation that all of their friends will see. Customers can directly provide you with complaints, questions, feedback etc and you can just as easily respond.
* Attracting new customers - It's really easy to be spread around Facebook and you can take advantage of that in order to be promoted to a lot of new people, making it a great way to attract new customers to your business.
* Retain existing customers - Retaining existing customers is a lot easier than attracting new ones, so you have to do everything to keep the customers that you have. Facebook allows you to interact and engage with your existing customers who are active on this platform.
Facebook for you...
In order to use Facebook for your business you'll first need to create a personal Profile page. This is where you use Facebook to interact with friends and family, to Like pages etc. Once you have a Profile page you can then create a Page. A Page can be for a business, community group, and a variety of other things. The Page must be created while logged into a Profile, and whoever you wish to assign Admin of the Page needs to Like the Page, then you can assign them Admin by enterting their email address into your page settings. Page Admins can post on the Page on your behalf without needing to be logged in as you.
I can provide clear instructions on the process for creating a page and allocating Admins.
