In just a few short years, social media has exploded into a giant network of people trying to stay connected. It has also created a new age of business and consumerism, with products and information available at the touch of a button. Social media has many advantages and is a great opportunity to spread information about your company in order to get others interested.

Are you interested in using social media to your advantage, but aren’t sure how? Here are five simple tips to help you get started.

Background

Currently, the most popular social media websites are Facebook, Twitter and various blogging sites. Knowing how these websites work can help you decide which one(s) will work best for your business.

  • Facebook allows you to create a specific page or group, where you can post photos and events and invite others to “like” or “join.”
  • Twitter lets you post a short message of no more than 140 characters to get your point across. You can post about upcoming sales and new products or thank those who attended a particular event. You can also follow business partners and encourage others to follow you. The more followers you have the better.
  • Blogs also give you the opportunity to post photos and events and be really creative. However, most blogs aren’t as publicly followed as Facebook and Twitter, unless you provide your specific blog address in order to gain followers.

Put Yourself Out There

Social media is a chance to make your name and image known. Be consistent with your title and logo so that when others see it, they’ll know exactly who you are.

An easy way to start putting your business out there is to have your employees like the business page on Facebook or follow it on Twitter. Encourage them to invite their friends to do the same and you could have hundreds of followers in a short amount of time.

Make Time

Remember to schedule time for social networking. You shouldn’t need more than 20-30 minutes a day to review and update.

Instead of doing everything yourself or hiring someone specifically as a social media specialist, a great way to share the required time and responsibility is to have a group of employees take turns and share the task. This will also allow for a variety of perspectives and a feeling of contribution and importance among your employees.

Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin

With so many different types of social media out there, it’s easy to get caught up in too many things. You don’t have to join every blog or website available to gain popularity. In fact, it’s better to have just one or two strong profiles for your business rather than four or five that are weak.

Stay Involved

Once you’ve found the social media sites that work best for your business, have fun and stay involved. Ask questions about your company or products to get feedback from customers, share exciting accomplishments and events and use input from followers to make improvements.

Another benefit of social media for small business to a certain extent is the ability to track your competition. You can compare how many Facebook friends or Twitter followers they have, how often they post and what types of posts they make, and how often their posts are liked or shared.

As you follow these tips and use social media to help promote your business, keep in mind there are many websites that offer advice for new businesses and entrepreneurs. Education is a great weapon against frustration. Also, remember that building a reputation takes time, especially for a new company.