People hear that I’m a communications consultant and they immediately ask, “What social media should I be using?” Here is my single, definitive, expert and unalterable answer:
It depends.
Seriously. And anybody who tells you different is wrong. I’m sure about it!
What does it depend upon? Before you decide which social media to use, consider the following questions:
- Am I ready for social media? Is my website up to date, easy to use, and full of content people will want to see? Do I blog? Do I collect people’s email (with their permission) and send them information that makes them like and trust me? If not, take care of that before you worry about social media!
- Are the people I’m trying to reach on social media? Don’t assume they’re not–people over 65 are the fastest growing group on social media–but don’t assume they are. Find out. If your audience habitually reads mail, or listens to Spanish-language radio, then maybe that’s where you should put your effort.
- Which social media are they on? We know some broad generalizations. For instance, LinkedIn is more male, Pinterest more female. But those generalizations may have nothing to do with your specific audience. Search for them online. Do a poll. Or just ask them.
- What’s the best thing I can share? If you have a lot of great video, Youtube might be the way to go. For photos, Pinterest, Instagram, or Tumblr. Facebook is great for a mix of brief thoughts, links to longer posts, and images. Twitter is fantastic for pithy saying and links to your blog posts (or other people’s content that you want to share). Use what you have–or learn to create what you can use.
Still not sure? That’s fine: better than being too sure too soon! Drop me a message at [email protected] and we’ll see if I can help you.
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