There are numerous social media platforms out there and it will be hard to understand which of them to use for your business. does one go along with the prominent players like Facebook and Twitter? Or does one try a number of the newer, up-and-coming platforms? during this post, we’ll break down the five main social media varieties and provide you with some samples of each. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of every type so you’ll make an informed decision about which platforms are right for you.
Why do we use social media?
There are some key reasons: to extend brand awareness, generate leads, and improve traffic. Your platform choice will largely rely upon your audience. If you’re trying to succeed in Millennials, for instance, you’ll be wanting to air a unique platform than if you’re trying to achieve Baby Boomers.
How to increase brand awareness through social media?
There are some alternative ways to travel about this. you’ll run ads, post engaging content, or partner with influencers.
Let’s say you are a small business selling handmade jewelry. you would possibly want to contemplate running ads on Facebook and Instagram, likewise as partnering with some jewelry bloggers or Instagram influencers. This way, you’ll reach potential clients where they’re already spending their time.
How do generate leads through social media?
There are some alternative ways to get leads through social media. you’ll post content that drives traffic to your website, or use platforms that allow you to gather contact information.
For example, if you are a realty agent, you would possibly want to use Facebook ads to drive traffic to your website or blog. you’ll be able to also use a platform like LinkedIn to gather contact information from potential leads.
How to improve traffic through social media?
If you have got a blog, you’ll share your blog posts on social media. this may help drive traffic to your website. you’ll be able to also use social media to market events or webinars.
Let’s say you are a small business owner and you’re hosting a webinar on the way to starting a business. you’ll promote your webinar on social media and drive traffic to your registration page.
Let’s take a glance at the five main sorts of social media
- Social networking sites: Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter
- Media sharing sites: Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube
- Blog platforms: Medium, WordPress, Tumblr
- Forums: Reddit, Quora, Digg
- Microblogging sites: Twitter, Tumblr
Social Networking Sites:
The first kind of social media platform is the social networking site. These are platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+. Social networking sites are all about connecting with people. you’ll be able to use them to create relationships, share content, and promote your business.
Each kind of social media has its own set of pros and cons. Social networking sites are great for building relationships with potential customers, but they will even be time-consuming.
Pros:
- Great for building relationships
- Can be wont to share content
- Can be accustomed promote your business
Cons:
- Can be time-consuming
- Not all platforms are equal (Facebook is different from LinkedIn)
- You have to have a method
Media Sharing Sites:
The second sort of social media platform is the media sharing site. These are platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. Media sharing sites are all about sharing visual content.
Media sharing sites are perfect for engaging with your audience, but they might not be the best for driving traffic to your website.
Pros:
- Great for sharing visual content
- It can build relationships
- Can promote your business
Cons:
- Not all platforms are equal (Instagram is different from Snapchat)
- Strategy is a must
- Can take a lot of time
Blog Platforms:
The third kind of social media platform is the blog platform. These are platforms like Medium, WordPress, and Tumblr. Blog platforms are all about sharing written content.
Blog platforms are crucial for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and generating leads, but they will definitely take time to build up.
Pros:
- Great for sharing written content
- Drive traffic to your website
- Crucial for SEO and leads
Cons:
- Strategy and technique are a must
- Need time to start with them.
Forums:
The fourth style of social media platform is the forum. These are platforms like Reddit, Quora, and Digg. Forums are all about sharing information and starting a discussion.
Forums are important and essential to building relationships and promoting your business, but they are not that important for driving traffic to your website.
Microblogging Sites:
The fifth and final sort of social media platform is the microblogging site. These are platforms like Twitter and Tumblr. Microblogging sites are all about sharing short updates or thoughts.
Microblogging sites are often times essential for building relationships and promoting your business just like forums.
So, which social media is the one for you? It all depends on your goals and your audience. If you’re looking to build relationships with potential customers, you would possibly want to concentrate on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. If you are looking to interact with your audience and drive traffic to your website, you may want to concentrate on media-sharing sites like Instagram and Snapchat. If you’re looking to generate leads and improve SEO, you might want to focus on blog platforms like Medium and WordPress. And if you’re looking to drive traffic to your website, you might want to focus on forums like Reddit and Quora.
No matter which social media you choose, the important thing is to be consistent and to post regularly. If this is easy for you to do, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful social media marketing strategy.
