{"id":1880,"date":"2016-11-02T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.canirank.com\/blog\/?p=1880"},"modified":"2020-11-25T10:50:17","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T18:50:17","slug":"the-best-social-media-sites-for-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.canirank.com\/blog\/the-best-social-media-sites-for-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Social Media Sites for Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since social networking can be a huge\u00a0time-sink (with a good chunk of\u00a0small businesses admitting\u00a0that they waste time on Facebook and Twitter) it\u2019s incredibly easy to dump hours in social media without getting much of anything in return.<\/p>\n

Despite its perception as a distraction, social media can\u00a0<\/em>(the keyword here is can) result in a positive ROI for your business in terms of acquiring new customers<\/strong>, building your reputation<\/strong>, and\u00a0contributing to your website\u2019s SEO<\/a><\/span><\/strong>. But it\u2019s important to first understand which social media sites are the right fit for your business.<\/p>\n

Why Do Businesses Use Social Media?<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s the thing: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to social media marketing.<\/p>\n

There is no blueprint or formula that works for everyone, and this is perhaps where most businesses who flounder via social go wrong.<\/p>\n

Although there is no \u201cright\u201d way to approach social media, you should first understand the benefits of social media for business\u00a0which are pretty much universal, regardless of your niche or industry:<\/p>\n

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  1. The ability to target and converse with potential customers directly<\/strong>.<\/span>\u00a0While the growing number of social channels may tempt us to spread ourselves too thin, consider how different sites perform with different niches (for example,\u00a085% of Pinterest\u2019s users are female<\/a><\/span>, making it a prime platform for a site with a female-driven audience).<\/li>\n
  2. The opportunity to grow your status as an influencer<\/strong> and\u00a0share your on-site content<\/strong>.<\/span>\u00a0This may not seem like groundbreaking advice; however, the social network is perhaps the most powerful place to curate your content. Given that\u00a030 billion pieces of content are shared monthly on Facebook<\/a><\/span>, you have a greater likelihood of gaining traction via social versus simply relying on organic traffic as a newbie. Likewise, platforms such as LinkedIn Pulse allow you get more mileage out of your existing content and<\/span>\u00a0help boost your reputation to a new audience.<\/li>\n
  3. Serving as one the four major criteria for your overall marketing performance and visibility in search engines, links obtained through social media can represent positive search signals to Google<\/span>\u00a0and may encourage a osteady stream of traffic that can help you\u00a0build links and start ranking for new keywords<\/a><\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The importance\u00a0of social media in\u00a0business\u00a0is\u00a0clear. The question remains: what social media should you use, and how can you ensure that your time is well spent?<\/p>\n

    \"Send<\/p>\n

    9\u00a0Top Social Media Sites for Businesses<\/h2>\n

    With so many social media sites out there, it\u2019s crucial that businesses manage their time and resources wisely. Rather than trying to dominate every single social channel, consider how you can define your content amplification strategy<\/a> and grow a social presence that actually results in a positive ROI.<\/p>\n

    Focus primarily on the social networking sites\u00a0that speak to your\u00a0specific audience. Consider not only the \u201cbig\u201d social media websites that you\u2019re probably already logged on but also the smaller players that reach more targeted users.<\/p>\n

    Facebook<\/h3>\n

    Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s brainchild is the undisputed king of the social network,\u00a0with well over one billion daily active users<\/a><\/span>. Although the platform was originally conceived as an ad-free venture, Facebook\u2019s advertising platform has exploded in recent years. Additionally, more and more private groups have popped up where users are encouraged to do business.<\/p>\n

    Twitter<\/h3>\n

    Representing a more minimal social channel with its 140-character limit, Twitter represents a prime place for businesses to network and reach out to colleagues and customers alike.\u00a0With over 350,000 tweets sent out per minute<\/a>, the platform is as lively as ever<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    LinkedIn<\/h3>\n

    The prime social network for professionals and those looking for more of a \u201csuit and tie\u201d vibe,\u00a0LinkedIn has experienced steady growth over the years<\/a>. Recently, LinkedIn has become a popular place to reach out to influencers (think: blogging bigwigs, CEOs and VPs). It’s also a great place to share content via LinkedIn Groups and LinkedIn\u2019s own Pulse platform.<\/p>\n

    Instagram<\/h3>\n

    Despite popular belief, Instagram is more than just a place to take snapshots of your lunch. In fact,\u00a0small businesses are ramping up their Instagram ad spending<\/a>, especially in hopes of reaching more millennials. Given the rapid rise of visual content, Instagram\u2019s base of over 400 million users represents unique opportunities for creative businesses.<\/p>\n

    YouTube<\/h3>\n

    Although many marketers are afraid to get their feet wet with video,\u00a0the meteoric rise of YouTube<\/a> represents a glimpse into the future of marketing itself.\u00a0The numbers don\u2019t lie in regard to video marketing<\/a>, from an insanely positive ROI to creating more leads, tapping into YouTube\u2019s base of over one billion users is quickly becoming a must-do for modern marketers.<\/p>\n

    Pinterest<\/h3>\n

    Leveraging visual marketing to a female-dominated user base,\u00a0Pinterest drives a ton\u00a0of traffic that\u2019s willing to spend<\/a>.\u00a0Representing the newer wave of social networking with a heavier emphasis on imagery versus text-based content, Pinterest is home to a number of micro-niches just waiting to be tapped into.<\/p>\n

    \"Should<\/p>\n

    Tumblr<\/h3>\n

    Somewhat of an outlier, Tumblr is a hotbed for user-generated content, with perhaps less focus on B2B and B2C transactions. However, Tumblr\u2019s popularity among millennials is impossible to deny<\/a>, making it a potential goldmine for businesses within the proper niche.<\/p>\n

    SlideShare<\/h3>\n

    Often overlooked, SlideShare represents the perfect platform for content creators looking to get more mileage out of their written pieces and\u00a0be perceived as an expert in their space.\u00a0Approximately 40% of B2B marketers already use SlideShare to distribute content<\/a>\u00a0to a base of over 70 million users.<\/p>\n

    Google+\/Google My Business<\/h3>\n

    You\u2019ll come across hundreds of articles that talk about how Google+ is dead. And, as far as a tool for engagement goes, we tend to agree. But Google+ and Google My Business are still incredibly important for all business from an SEO standpoint.<\/p>\n

    But Which Social Networks Are Best for My <\/em>Business?<\/h2>\n

    So you\u2019re staring at nine potential social networking sites\u00a0but have no idea<\/em>\u00a0where to start.<\/p>\n

    Fear not. Nobody realistically is expected to juggle every single social network at once. Take a step back and consider how much you\u2019re willing to put into social media in terms of time, energy and resources. First and foremost, consider the following three questions:<\/p>\n