It is without a doubt that the best way for a business to grow today is to stay connected with the consumer. And we all know that there is no better way of staying connected than by using emerging social media platforms. But with so many social media sites out there, it gets really hard to choose one for your business.
Face-what? Link-who? If you’re confused on which platform can get you on your way to success, remember, there is no one-size-fits all solution. The only thing you can do is find out what the various social media outlets out there are all about, so that you can make a more informed decision when the time comes. Keeping that in mind, here is a list of some of the best social media platforms for business owners.
1. LinkedIn.com
With around 200 million users, LinkedIn is a vast network of professionals who are just looking to meet other like minded people to, find a job, start a partnership or just make new friends. The best part about LinkedIn is that everyone on the site is a professional – entrepreneurs, business owners, and those who want to offer their expertise, etc. Furthermore, the LinkedIn forums have around 54,000 members, and growing. So, it makes it a great place to find people who would want to collaborate in your business.
2. Facebook.com
Well, you saw this one coming. The mother of all social media outlets can be the best thing that has even happened to your business, that is, if you know how to operate it properly. With over a billion users worldwide, Facebook continues to be a force in the fields of marketing and advertising, and can also be just the thing you need to find other like minded professionals, create new partnerships, find investors and take your business to the next level.
3. Google Plus
With over 350 million users, Google Plus is the second largest social network which is also backed up by the world’s number one search engine. In fact, Google Plus is often compared to Facebook even though both services don’t have much in common. The platform is a great tool for connecting with people and businesses based on their interests and business profile. So, if you are a business owner, and you probably are if you’re still reading this, then Google Plus should be right up your alley.
4. Twitter
While some of your friends and family members might be here, the micro blogging site is a great place to get connected with brands and topics that are related to your business. Self-promotion is allowed on Twitter, the site can be used as a platform where you can spread the word about your business. Since there are around four hundred tweets that are sent in a single day, the wise thing to do would be to send out tweets as often as you can and make sure they are helpful and have relevant information which is targeted to your audience demographic.
5. Instagram
Sure, Instagram is a picture sharing social network, but that’s where its uniqueness lies. In doing away with all the clutter, your product or service will get a chance to make a visual impact. Instagram allows users to make a good first impression in a fun and creative way. Apart from that, many companies use Instagram as a push tool to other emerging social media platforms.
6. Pinterest
With around 30 million active users, Pinterest is another social sharing platform which focuses on visuals. The service allows you to pin images on your own virtual corkboard. Others can then pin your pins on their own boards. While this visual social sharing tool will not get you up close and personal with other business owners or investors, it is a good way to find out about other businesses that are similar to yours. Remember, that around 95% of all images on Pinterest have come from other websites, so pins can be used to link back to your business website.
Other social networks that are business oriented include Founder2be.com, CoFoundersLab.com, CraigsList.org, Connect.org, StartUpNation.com, and PerfectBusiness.com.