Social Media… One Size Does NOT Fit All!
Posted by Patrick Murphy on Wed, Oct 19, 2011
Struggling to find your place in social media? Every organization has a different fit, so unfortunately it’s not just one simple recipe. Just because you think everyone is on Twitter or Facebook, doesn’t mean you have to be. Did you know that if you’re a B2B business, you might have more productive results from the likes of LinkedIn than Facebook? That’s the kind of thing only a true social media professional would know. It’s not a case of signing up for everything, you see: every company has a different social media fit.
Social Media Success Recipe: Different Ingredients Every Time
Some “social media experts” will have you sign up for the bog standard Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and company blog. This is the wrong approach! Overlooking the niche social networks out there and location-based services can be a big mistake. How about niche social networks based on your location? We’ve noticed, for example that certain major brands in Ireland have set up camp on local forums boards.ie, because they get a good Irish audience there and can interact with them. Forums may be a thing of the past for some social media aficionados but in this context, they really work.
Your organization doesn’t need to tick specific boxes or be on the largest social networks. It needs to be on the networks your clients and customers use. Learning where they are will require a little bit of work.
One Social Media Message: Different Forms
How many times have you seen a company pushing out the exact same content and message all over the web? It’s a rookie error. Every social network is different and it’s users interact in a different way under a different tone. Learning the different styles of communication used on each site will benefit your staff in their social media endeavors. When thinking about Facebook, remember that it is relatively informal, and conversational. You’re inviting people to participate and interact with your page. Don’t build a wall and don’t repeat the same content over and over. With Twitter, you can post out announcements but also take conversation to a personal level with individuals. So you don’t want the language to be too stuffy.
Need more advice on social media use for your organization? Contact SiliconCloud today.
Check out our whitepaper on 'How to Build your Brand with Social Media'.
