Pick a Social Network! Any Social Network!

It is not uncommon for a business owner to fall into the social media trap of signing up to numerous social networks only to engage in none. Having a presence on social media is important and is something that should be done on a consistent (daily!) basis in order to grow your audience, but if you are new to social media let me give you one piece of advice: start with one network at a time!

What social media network should I be on?

The social network you should be on depends on what it is you are trying to achieve, what it is you are selling or promoting and where you (and your audience) like to hang out online. For example, Facebook is the most popular social network and most everyone is on there, but young people (teens and young adults) are also spending time on Snapchat and Instagram – maybe even more so than on Facebook.

If you are selling handbags that are designed for ages 16 to 24 then you want to be where they are – posting visually appealing images or videos of your product and engaging with them by liking and commenting on their photos and videos.

Where do I start?

I always say start with Facebook. It’s the perfect social network to engage with your audience by posting, sharing, liking, and commenting on posts from similar businesses, industry experts and fans. Create a Facebook Page and invite friends and family to “like” your page (you have to start somewhere!). You can advertise your page’s URL on your business cards, email signature and in any e-marketing you send your audience.

Why Facebook?

Facebook is one of the original social networks (LinkedIn launched first) and has earned its place as a social media leader. Every day millions of people log on to Facebook to not only keep in touch with loved ones, but to also engage with their business audience on their page, in Facebook groups, and grow their business through Facebook ads.

I hate Facebook.

You’re not alone. What about Twitter? Or Pinterest? The important thing is to pick one social network to start with and make the most out of your experience there before adding other networks to your workload. Create a full profile on that one network, start engaging with others and after about three to six months see if it is making a difference: are the people you are engaging with converting into sales or clients? Are people finding you online or do you need to advertise more? Is your audience on another network?

Do you need help setting up a social media profile or deciding where to start online? A social media virtual assistant can help! Contact us for more information and get started with social media marketing today!