What are the social media sites to use?

I guess everyone knows what social media sites are active nowadays, but there are specific sites that are best for networking and marketing on a social and business level. The most popular social media sites to date are Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google Plus and LinkedIn.

Below are some guidelines on how to boost your content reach with social media:

Facebook

Let’s go back to the history of Facebook. Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg, he launched his creation on February 2004. Facebook was not literary facebook, it was a site for Harvard students. On September 2006, he announced facebook and was open for everyone aged 13 and above. Now, over a million people has joined Facebook.

Since its launch, Facebook has helped people connect all over the world. From lovers to business partners. Facebook is a good social media site to post things. Because millions and millions of people go online everyday and a lot of people like sharing posts. That’s the good benefit of Facebook.

The guidelines on posting on Facebook:

If you will be posting on Facebook, avoid posting two or three times on the first week. Let your first post be a guide on what people want to see in your page. For example your first post was an image post, if you attracted a lot of audience in your first post, therefore you could use that type of content again. But don’t repost the same image after it goes live, you may use it after a week or so. Consider trying to post different varieties like a link post, an image post or a video post. Through this different types of post, you could see the different audience members and which post works best.

Never repeat images. Keep in mind to use different copy and preview image as you post. Use images that are connected to the post, the description and headline as well. You must mix and match different scenarios.

To spread the word to people who don’t follow your business page, ask your friends or team members to share your post to their personal account. The shares of your team members or friends can help you because through their share, you are already connecting to the public.

Twitter

Twitter was created by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone and Noah Glass. They launched the site on July 2006. Just like Facebook, Twitter now has over a million people logged in. Twitter is very famous for teens, it’s where they like expressing their thoughts. Twitter is not only for “thinking out loud”, you could also use Twitter to build and promote your business.

Here are the guidelines:

In twitter, you must share your content three or four times. But never repeat the tweet more than five times, you’ll annoy your followers and they’ll surely unfollow you. Take a break.  Through studies, it is said that there are best times to post on social media – this is called “peak time”.

Also in Twitter there are hashtags and mentions, use those in every status update but remember to limit your hashtags and use keywords relevant to your post. Again, try varying your content from posting or sharing articles, images, and videos.

Is retweeting other people’s tweets okay? Yes, definitely. Don’t forget to mention the original source and don’t fill your account with others’ retweets. Keep in mind that your main goal is to establish your brand, your own voice.  You may retweet but you should be creating your own content as well. Let your followers know about your new content not other people’s content. Create killer content to attract and engage with your followers on a personal level.

Pinterest and Instagram

Pinterest was created by Ben Silbermann, Evan Sharp and Paul Sciarra. It was launched on December 2009. On the other hand, Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. On October 2010, the trendy app was launched.

Here are the guidelines in using these apps as a promotional tool:

If you will be publishing your content in Pinterest, pin your content in a relevant pin board. On the other hand, here’s how you can use Instagram to promote your business.

According to metrics:

● Pinterest is for your middle-aged or older audience
● Instagram if for your teen audience

For both social platforms, you’ll want to post notable images from behind-the-scenes, how-to or regular articles. Turning your articles to an inspirational quote is a good idea. I encourage you to also try other formats when posting on pinterest or instagram.

Google +

Google plus was launched on June 2011. It has a lot of features, it has the ability to post pictures, you could even update your status, and many more.

Guidelines using Google Plus:

The good thing about Google Plus is that, it allows you to post long updates. It lets you choose whether to post the full blog to your company profile or a custom long intro attached with a link to the latest content.

You could also post your content in your Google communities but it depends on the quality of your content. But make sure that you’ll be posting your highest quality piece or you could post a content that you know your audience could perform well.

Conclusion:

Social media accounts vary, adjust to the guidelines if you want to do it your own way. Always keep in mind that nothing is perfect there will always be a trial and error in every step. Through trial and error you would know what type of content best promotes your business and at the same time best fits your followers’ taste. Content that’s unique and relevant are the ones that go viral.

The post How to Boost Your Content with Social Media appeared first on First Page SEO Internet Marketing.

How is Instagram helpful to your business? With more than 150m users and a continuously multiplying number on a global scale, this image and web video social free-sharing platform can significantly increase your brand or business’ online presence.

Unlike Facebook or Twitter (two of the most on demand social platforms to date), Instagram does not cater to one-niche services, product or business, does not have built-in visibility or metrics, or paid ad options. People enjoy using Instagram because it’s:

• Simple and user-friendly – Instagram enables users to customize photos creating artistic masterpieces with a personal touch. From the app, you can link and share posts to other social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and email – automatically.

• Visual story-telling with no ad pop ups – Both technology and experience allow people to establish online presence through visual storytelling that gives room to creativity and continuity than most platforms.

• Suits people’s needs to a T – Combining the best of both worlds (mobile and photo sharing) to come up with a unique platform that offers real value to web based businesses. Personal or company brands can take advantage of these two, in one action.

Get started with Instagram by simply signing up for a free account (if you have a Twitter account, we suggest using the same name as your Twitter handle), add a profile photo (brand logo) and a link to your website and don’t forget your account to Facebook – let your network know they can follow you there!

It’s an easy set-up but utilizing Instagram can be confusing to some. So whether you’re new to this or have some knowledge about it, you can still learn a few tips and tricks to getting the most out of Instagram:

Create posts that

• Display your products – It could be the whole product line or a specific selection. Hashtagging your images is an important part of the sharing process. By using #keyword people will be able to find or identify whatever they are looking for – be it a product, service, answer or brand.

• Map out the process – Share the world step by step photos of the manufacturing process or how. People appreciate transparency.

• Let people take a peep into “behind-the-scenes” scene – People are naturally curious so bring able to give them a glimpse into actions that take place behind the business is always a good way to make your audience have a feel of say, an event, a class, a photo shoot session.

• Show before-and-after results – This strategy helps people who are involved in fashion, beauty and interior design or building industries. Make a collage of before and after images to showcase your skills.

• Showcase your workstation – Build a personal connection by showing your audience where the magic happens.

• Share your world – If you’re attending a conference, event or workshop let people have a feel of that experience through image story-telling.

• Introduce your people – Reveal the fun and creative vibe of your workforce and how they put into good use your product or service.

• Throw an Instagram contest and give out rewards– Offer freebies, discounts or incentives and ask your followers to part take, tag a friend and even possibly share the reward. It always keeps the ball rolling!

Captivate and engage the audience

• Use relevant and appropriate hashtags –Hashtags are the key element to going viral. How to use a hashtag effectively? #keyword – could be a word or phrase anything you think that would help people find your product, service, business and even your personal brand. Limit using 5 hashtags to a photo post.

• Involve your customers – Tell your customers or loyal fan base to take photos of them showing off a product they purchased from you or the result of your services using a specific hashtag so that when people type it in, they automatically find a collection of photos. If you’re on the ecommerce business, provide a link to the product page.

• Reach out – Respond to comment, requests and questions by following, commenting or liking back.

• Cross-channel publish content– Publish a post on several social media platforms and link your Instagram account.

• Ask for feedback – Businesses or companies succeed because their customers help them so. One of the best ways is to ask your customers feedback: What do you like best about our products or services? How can we be of better service to you? People outside your business see the good and bad points. This will help you reassess and make right the wrong.

• Throw promotions – Give your customer the opportunity to gain a free product, opportunity or experience and don’t forget to hashtag. You’ll be surprised how your follower base multiply exponentially by this tactic.

Measure Success

No online business succeeds without metrics. Metrics is relevant to helping you determine where your business is and where it’s going.

• Track and measure hashtags – Get valuable information on your campaign.

• Account reporting – Learn more about your followers and how the tricks of the trade impact the success of both your network and business.

• Measure competition – Find out how your campaign positioned you in other companies. Find out how you can stay ahead of the game.

In conclusion, as the old saying goes: “A picture is worth a thousand words” As it still very much stands true, with Instagram, one picture could mean a thousand likes and shares! In addition to that, Instagram 15-second short, video clips make the sharing experience all the more fun and exciting!
Are you using Instagram yet? Tell us how you’re using Instagram to promote your business!

The post How to Use Instagram to Promote Your Business appeared first on First Page SEO Internet Marketing.