Social Media: What You Need To Know

Social media is a concept that includes multiple platforms where you as a user can post texts, images, and videos to interact and communicate with other users. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Snapchat are some examples of social media. Many probably join mainly social media by chatting, posting pictures, or watching videos. 

 

Old media, or traditional media, are called established media such as radio, television, and newspapers. The difference between them is that the user himself publishes information on social media, and there is social communication with other users, which is entirely lacking in traditional media.

 

But let's go back to social media again. There are many digital channels such as websites, apps, and mediums where we can communicate with others, publish ourselves, and share audio, text, image, video, and more.

 

Benefits of Using Social Media

Social media has long been a powerful way for people to interact with their friends and acquaintances and for companies to meet their clients. Therefore, companies must get involved in social media to meet their target audience where they are. 

 

Today, most people mistrust if companies only have a telephone number or an email address on their contact page. However, the company must also be available on social media to be contacted. Therefore, it is becoming more popular to include a chat on their site or Facebook page to respond to inquiries directly.

 

 Things you Should Know About Social Media

1. All social media are not equivalent. LinkedIn should be treated differently than Instagram and Facebook, which is different from Google+, which is different from Twitter.

2. It takes time and frequency to develop trust in any social media, just like any relationship. Social media is a tool, not a destination.

3. Use LinkedIn to build thought leadership through the growth of a community of engaged and highly enthusiastic people. You can even write a blog that is linked to Twitter, Facebook, & Google+.

4. Use your communities as a business development tool to source highly targeted possible customers/clients.

5. You should join communities in all of your social networks. There are also some great resources out there for free. You can easily subscribe to any.

6. It is acceptable for your clients to disagree with you on Twitter. That's why they name it social media and not "one kind" media. Best practice: Have a strategy for how you deal with negative comments and reach out to those who assist you. They are your brand representatives! But, again, this is valid for all of your communities, not just Twitter.

7. Your posts will and should match the personality of your company. If you are not real, you won't remain very long. Anyone who says otherwise is simply trying to sell you something.

8. If you want to schedule your Tweets, timing is everything. The life of a Tweet is about 1 hour; scheduled many times throughout the day. Make your presence meaningful and consistent. 

9. Ensure you are listening to communities on Twitter and any community you join in! Make no error; customers are in charge now more than ever. So please pay attention to what they say. Some of the best product plans, feedback, and queries will come to you from your Twitter communities.

10. Use all your communities to develop business leads.