BUSINESS and SOCIAL MEDIA By Joseph Molina National Veterans Chamber of Commerce veteransccsd@gmail.com Anyone whose business is not yet on social media is missing out. Promoting your business on social media will be an essential skill that fosters the growth of your business. As social media grows and gathers people worldwide, it would be a shame to not reach out to such a large market. Be mindful, however, that social media promotion is quite different from real life, and you will need to figure out what works best for you. There are some strategies that will provide better results and generate more sales for your business. Social media can provide many benefits to a business. For example, social media provides a direct connection between you and your customer. A new brand using social media can reach out to millions of people with ease. The best approach on social media is to be consistent and creative with your business posts. Below are some specific suggestions for how to promote your business on social media. SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS To promote your business on social media, you must have an account on the social media platforms. They are many options, and you will need to decide which best suits your business. The platforms discussed in this article are all free and even offer paid advertising options. Twitter Twitter a very popular social media network that enables users to post short messages or “tweets”, as well as images, videos, and links. The Twitter interface allows any user across the globe to react to a post. In other words, Twitter is a great platform to reach out to customers all over the world. Most businesses use Twitter to post news, latest updates, and links to their website or sales page. LinkedIn LinkedIn on the other hand is a more professional social media platform, and content and interactions should be more formal. Rather than putting a business in touch with millions of potential customers, LinkedIn is a network of millions of professionals who connect to solve each other’s problems. On LinkedIn, you will reach out to both potential partners and skilled employees who will help boost your business. Facebook Facebook is obviously the world’s largest social network. I recommend establishing a presence on 48
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Facebook first because 90% of your potential customers are users of this one platform. If you wish to bring your brand to life, make use of Facebook. Unlike some forms of social networks, Facebook offers greater freedom in the kinds of media you can post videos, images, links, etc. Facebook also offers a paid advertising service that will help market your business to thousands of people across the world. Instagram You might already know that Facebook has owned Instagram since 2012. Nevertheless, Instagram functions as a separate social network that focuses on the sharing of photos and videos. In that regard, Instagram has a lot in common with Twitter. Most of the photos and videos are public, and it is easy to get started by following other Instagram users with inspiring content and loyal, engaged followers. Instagram is great for both showcasing products and giving people a sense of the behind-the-scenes of your business. Pinterest Pinterest is a trendy, image-based social sharing site that many small businesses use to showcase their products with quality photographs. For consumers, Pinterest has become a web storefront to inspire, browse, and sometimes buy a wide array of products from trendy food to handicrafts. User Trends You’ll want to capitalize on trends that relate specifically to your business, your audience, and the social media platform. With these examples just mentioned, it would be more effective to include them in Instagram posts rather than using Facebook or LinkedIn. Using Paid Advertising Most social media networks sell advertising placements that allow business owners to run targeted campaigns. This strategy can require a significant investment, so it is wise to research and establish a budget before you develop and run your ads. The National Veterans Chamber of Commerce Radio Show • Would you like to Nominate a Hero? Let us know, and we will announce it on the show. • Would you like to share your story? Here is the REQUEST FORM. - www.vccsd.org/radioshow.html • If you have any ideas or a project that you would like to Develop in collaboration with the National Veterans Chamber, send your ideas to: veteransccsd@gmail.com
