Social media is a crucial element of any company’s digital marketing strategy. It helps bring awareness to your brand, show expertise in your industry, and ultimately encourage website visits and purchases (but I’m guessing you probably knew all of that).
Yet while you may have already established yourself on Facebook, Twitter, and even Pinterest, there’s one thing that’s for certain: the digital world is constantly evolving. Just think, ten years ago smart phones didn’t even exist. Five years ago Instagram was new to the social world, and we were all trying to figure out whether it would fizzle out like several networks before it (we’re looking at you, Myspace).
Every year – heck every week – it seems like there’s a new social network hitting the internet or a new feature to utilize on a current one. Facebook is testing different emojis to go along with their “Like” button, Twitter may be removing its character limit, and you can now buy products directly from Pinterest. A few years ago, these concepts were unfathomable; yet here we are.
We originally created this guide in 2012 to help you navigate the maze that is social media marketing. At that time, many businesses had already created their accounts, but weren’t necessarily sure how to make the most of them. And that’s still our number one goal with this revamped content.
However, the landscape has changed. You’re no longer ahead of the curve simply by being on Pinterest and Instagram. Frankly, you’re right there with everyone else. So it’s what you do with that presence that ultimately determines your company’s social media success.
Through this guide, you’ll uncover:
- The best types of content and posting times for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram
- Time and budget-sensitive ways to stand out from the competition
- Real companies that have effectively incorporated social media into their marketing strategy
If you feel like your social presence could be taken up a notch, you’re not seeing the engagement you had hoped for, or you’re interested in trying out a network that you’re not currently on, then you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re a large enterprise or a small family business, you can put the power of social media to work for you.
