Are you just starting to dip your toes into the world of social media? Whether you are trying to build up a professional image or enhance the visibility of your brand through a solid social media marketing plan, it’s easy to get started with the social media platforms below. Whether you’ve been a social media skeptic up until this point or are just getting a late start, you should have an easy time getting started with any of the following tools.
Twitter is truly one of the quickest social media platforms to sign up for. All you need is a name, a Twitter handle and some basic information — such as a password and a cell phone number — and you are all set to start tweeting. Just remember to include a compelling bio and polished cover and profile photos to finish off your new online profile. Creating a Twitter Ads account allows you to promote content and give your business a boost.
Instagram is just as easy to sign up for as Twitter, though you need to have a smartphone to get started. You will include most of the same basic information as you would on Twitter, though you don’t need a cover photo. If you want to create a Business or Creator profile, the app will walk you through the process, which doesn’t take long if you have the right information at hand. You will then be able to benefit from analytics information, advertising tools and more. Make sure that you are ready to start posting visual-based content before you sign up. IGTV is a great outlet for your video content, as well.
YouTube
You may not think of YouTube as a social media platform, but that is one of its basic functions. It is also one of the best platforms to promote video content, especially long-form videos. YouTube also has advertising features for businesses. It’s easy for anyone to set up a YouTube account, as it is included with your Google account. If you don’t have a Gmail address, it takes about two minutes to set one up.
Whether you want to promote your business or your personal brand, LinkedIn is a great place to do so. Signing up for your personal profile is just about as quick as any other site and requires similar information. You will want to upload some solid, SEO-optimized resume content and start building your network for the greatest impact. If you want to create a business page from there, it is just as easy to do so. You will then be able to advertise, post jobs and handle other tasks that are important to your business.
If you have content that is fit for Instagram, it is likely that you have content fit for Pinterest, too, even though you may think you don’t. When you follow the right keyword and content strategies, Pinterest can be a great platform to help you improve your SEO.
You can share images from your photography business, links to your freelance articles or whatever other visuals you have to share with your audience. As with several other platforms on this list, you can create or convert to a business profile with advertising features and other benefits with ease. You can also include links to your YouTube videos or other outside video content to reach a larger audience.
Of course, you will want to have a solid social media marketing strategy in place to go with each of these platforms, especially if you are looking to promote your business online. Depending on the structure of your organization, you may want to handle your social media yourself, give the responsibility to someone on your team or hire an outside agency or freelancer to handle your needs. There’s no such thing as a uniform approach to social media — especially where unique target audience preferences are concerned — so keep testing new methods and even social media platforms until you find a successful fit for your needs.
Opinions expressed by AsianBlurb contributors are their own.
Freelance digital content specialist in the Greater Chicago Area.
