If you have a business you have either dived into creating social media sites or you are thinking about it. If you’ve already taken the plunge, you know that maintaining social media sites along with a website can be time-consuming and challenging. Doing it well takes commitment. Here are a few suggestions for how you can best present your business on social media.
Don’t try to do everything
One mistake I see a lot of companies and organizations make it the owners or managers immediately create a lot of social media accounts and then drown trying to maintain them. My suggestion is that you pick one or two to start and focus on those accounts. If you want to create others later, after you master the one or two initial ones, you can do so. But it won’t do your business or organization any good to create an account and can’t “feed it” the way it needs to be fed. A stale Facebook page or Twitter feed can be deadly for a company attempting to create buzz around the business.
What platform is right for you?
What social media platforms you choose really depends on your organization’s purpose and goals. Ask yourself what your main competitors do, and pay attention to how they do it. Most businesses with a location should have a Facebook page, even if it’s a fairly austere one. Media organizations or nonprofits that want to push out their messages or stories should definitely be on Twitter.
Two of the most powerful platforms today are Instagram and LinkedIn. Both take a lot of time and dedication to maintain well, though. A basic LinkedIn page for your business, like Facebook, is important in establishing credibility. Instagram, on the other hand, allows a business or organization to really engage with its audience and show personality.
Your Facebook page
Your Facebook page should be a business Facebook page, not a personal one. Here’s where you can get started creating a Facebook business profile. Add a great cover photo and other images that tell the story of your organization or business. Let your business personality shine through images.
Optimize your About Us area. Be sure to include contact information, and a link to your website. Include milestones such as when your business was started.
Create a business LinkedIn page. Add a logo and overview, using keywords and phrases that describe your business or organization. Add your organization’s location and industry. Customize your call-to-action button to fit the goals of your organization.
