Social Media

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You have heard it before. You have even read it again and again that your business should really be on social media websites. Not only do we in this social media era but it has also become one of the most useful marketing instruments.

There are at least 10 reasons why your business should be on social media websites:

• Because your customers and audience are there
• Because your potential customers and audience are there
• Because your customers and audience are already “buzzing” about you
• Because you can see what customers and audience are saying
• Because your competitors are there (remember, keep your friend close and your enemy even closer!)
• Because you will reach more people than you ever dreamed off
• Because it is free, so why shouldn’t your business be on Social Media?
• Because you have nothing to loose and everything to gain
• Because it is quick and easy to get the word out
• Because it makes your business look cool

However, there are also some barriers that prevents us from using social media effectively en efficiently, as of:

Too little time or no time at all

For some of us who are actually flying solo it is quite difficult to give the right amount of time to invest and network on social media websites. So, calculate and be consequent about how many hour a week you want to invest on social media websites.

Too many options

Do you know how many social media websites out there today? A LOT! Like myself, you are probably overwhelmed by the social media options each and every single day. Luckily, you have the freedom to choose which social media you want to be on.
This choosing-process may also lead to this important question: How to choose the right social media for your business? The answer is: it really depends on what industry your business is in. But there are some tips that might be very useful:

• Be there where your clients are
• Be there where your colleagues are
• Be there where your competitors are

If you are not sure what social media they are on, just ask them. Better yet, if you happen to be a member of internet forum or message board, start a thread with “what social media websites are you on?” I am sure they would like to answer your thread gladly because just like you, they also know how important it is to be on social media websites.

 
The other important social media question is: How to use social media effectively en efficiently?. Some useful tips to do so:

1. Focus on two or three social media websites

Be focused on two or three social media websites is always more effective than being unfocused on too many websites. Build a healthy business relationship with your contacts and followers on social media website by investing enough time with them. Three social media websites that you should focus on:

Twitter @libelcom

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables you to send and read your followers’ tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the your profile page. This following video – made by Lee Lefever – illustrates what Twitter is:

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking website, which’s mainly used for professional networking. The purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. You can invite anyone to become a connection. Let’s take a look at this intro video about LinkedIn:

Facebook

Facebook is a free-access social networking website that allows you to join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Let’s take a look at this intro video by Tim about Facebook:

2. Schedule time for social media

Schedule time that you want to invest on social media each day. By doing so, you make sure that your account stays active. Make sure that you are participating at various times and not just a single time of the day to maximize the number of people that you reach and interact with.

Feel free to connect with Libelcom ons social media websites and to share your own social media information in the comments.