Social Media for business

A summary

What have we learnt so far?● Facebook● Twitter● LinkedIn● Pinterest● Instagram● Blogging and vlogging

How do businesses benefit from social media?

● Helps customers trust the brand● Easy and (generally) free way to

market the business● Enables small businesses and startups

to compete with the big guys● Gives customers extra value e.g.

behind the scenes look

FacebookBenefits of Facebook● It’s the social network people tend to naturally

spend most of their time on● No word/character limit (although shorter

posts are more successful)● Brands on Facebook are seen as more

trustworthy● Easier to remove abusive comments

Challenges of Facebook● Having to pay to reach your audience● People don’t like being sold to on Facebook

TwitterBenefits of Twitter● Quick and simple to use● You can send more than a couple of

tweets a day● You don’t need to pay to be seen by

your current audience

Challenges of Twitter● Tweets can be missed easily in a busy

timeline● More problems with spam/trolls● You can’t moderate what people are

saying

PinterestBenefits of Pinterest● Images are key in social media now,

and Pinterest is a great way to find them

● Great way to collect together groups of content/images or look for inspiration

● Easy content

Challenges of Pinterest● It can be a time suck (although you

can now schedule pins)● It’s mainly aimed at women, so not

ideal for all markets

InstagramBenefits of Instagram● It’s where you guys are! More young

people follow brands on Instagram than any other social network

● It’s an easy way to create quick content

● It gives customers a behind the scenes look at your business

Challenges of Instagram● Like all social networks, it needs to

be updated regularly to be effective

Blogging and VloggingBenefits of Blogging and Vlogging● It’s a great way to create regular traffic

to your site (which is great for SEO - search engine optimisation).

● It gives people an insight into your business

● It helps establish a reputation as a market expert

Challenges of Blogging and Vlogging● Time consuming● It can be tricky to persuade someone to

vlog for your company

Challenges businesses face with social media

● Time● Resources● Skills● Content ideas● Making the wrong move -

#susanalbumparty● Not having a strategy

Creating a social media strategy

● Identify objectives● Identify target customers● Audit the competition● Choose your social media accounts● Create a content plan● Get sharing!

Your taskIn groups of 2-3, create a social

media strategy for Quest Professional for June, using the document in the link you’ll be

sent.