If you haven’t yet embraced the fact that you’ll be needing social media marketing from here forward, well, I hope you have a Plan B for your online survival. The honest truth is that social media is now pervasive in nearly every facet of online marketing, and while the opportunity is great, so is the challenge.
The truth is that your audience, or at least a vast portion of it, is residing on social networks, and if you are not involved, you can be quite sure your competition is, gathering all the leads that might have been yours. It’s also where they go to get ideas, tips and advice, a game you need to be influencing as well.
How to learn to use the various social media channels
There are a few major players that you simply need to be on, and few others that might make a lot of sense given your market. The top five social media networks at this writing are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube. The next most significant will be sites like Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Vine and Snapchat. This seconds tier is a lot more visually oriented, but drives a lot of traffic that is very interested in buying.
You’ll need to know each network’s primary demographics in order to determine whether or not a particular network is right for your business.
How to use social media sites for business
Cultivating audiences for your business through social media can be done far easier and faster than through traditional marketing if you are up to speed on how to make your reach exceed your current influence. This means learning how to get involved, engaged and shared as widely and quickly as you can.
The one constant in social media is change, and you need to keep abreast of what’s what in order to effectively market with this channel.
Here is a great compilation of social media resources that will keep you busy for some time. One of our favorites on this list is the blog Social Media Examiner.
Once you determine which direction you wish to take with your business, dive in with enthusiasm and determination. It will be rewarded!
