The top social networks for business

Nowadays, every company owner knows you cannot afford not to embrace social media. The question is how to do it in order to really get the most out of it. There are so many social platforms across the web, that it’s becoming harder and harder to keep track of them and to be able to exploit their true value. People usually get discouraged when they don’t have quick results, but it’s important to have a clear strategy in mind and manage your expectations in order for your social media efforts to be rewarded.

Being present on every social platform out there it’s not the key. The most important part of your social media exposure is to maintain a strong presence on the channels that can help your business the most. You need to stay focused and choose wisely the ones that really meet your company’s goals and dedicate them your time and efforts.

In order to do that, you must understand how they can help you, because the way you share content and engage is unique to every platform and you must not expect the same results. That’s why we chose the most used platforms for you to take a look and see what they can do for you and determine which ones are a good fit.

1. Twitter

The simple fact that Twitter has over 500 million users makes it a social media platform you just don’t want to ignore. Even though this kind of exposure can be a marketer’s paradise, it poses the risk that your content could get lost among the abundance of tweets. It takes a lot of work and consistency to establish a strong presence on Twitter and the only way to do that is to get your content to really stand out. Be sure to use the appropriate hashtags to make it easier for your target audience to find your content. Twitter is a very dynamic platform and usually generates strong viral content. It is best used to inspire large audiences to action but it will take time and commitment to find your best path for that.

2. Facebook

On Facebook you can create a business page where you can post updates, photos, videos and connect with “fans,” potential customers and others in your industry.

Facebook, like Twitter, it gives you access to a very large audience around the world. But unlike Twitter, Facebook is a less dynamic and aggressive platform. Here, it’s more about taking your time to engage your fans.

People usually use Facebook to connect with other people, share photos. This platform focuses more on human connection. You have to become more of a friend for your fans here to develop a sense of trust and brand-loyalty for your company.
Make your company friendlier by sharing photos and videos, important milestones and asking for feedback from your fans. You must use a friendlier tone and be very flexible here. This is not a place to aggressively sell, but to engage your clients and to build long-term relationships with them. Once you get to know them and earn their trust, they’ll start liking and sharing your content and your network will rapidly grow.

3. Google+

We’ve already talked about the power of Google+ in another post, but we can’t leave it out in this list, if we’re talking about the most important social media players. On Google+, as on any of the mentioned platforms, you can interact with your audience, but you’re able to create more targeted messages, tailored for each group of contacts.

The most important benefit from Google+ comes from the +1 feature that establishes how high your content will rank in Google search. It’s a great way to make your company more visible, but you must be dedicated to create valuable content. The fact that Google also indexes Google+ author names and status updates should make you very aware of your activity on this platform if you want a strong organic search.

4. Linkedin

Linkedin is a more conservative social platform and it’s reserved for business-focused conversations. This is a good platform for B2B companies and it’s probably the most effective platform for lead generation.

The best way to approach this platform is to concentrate on valuable, problem-solving content. The people here are usually very business-oriented, so you can really draw their attention if you stay focus on providing important resources and solutions to their industry problems. The key, like in any other platform is to find the best way to engage them - making them to like, share and comment to your discussions to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

5. Pinterest

Pinterest is rather a new addition to the most important social platforms team and in the last year it became very popular and effectively used in many fields. An image speaks a thousand words they say, therefore, if your company produces visual content, make sure to share it on Pinterest too. You have access to a large audience, but Pinterest usually doesn’t drive fast actions, instead it’s a great way to get viral by spreading your content.

Based on your experience, which social network do you think is the best fit for you? What differences have you encountered?