Social Media ToolsThe world of online social media has exploded during the last few years, with good reason. People can connect with hundreds of thousands of others to discuss and share nearly anything. Whether it’s used to spread the word about a great new promotion or product, to inform customers of some relevant industry news, or if it’s to simply share a funny image you found while browsing, social media allows for a type of connection with customers and visitors in a way that traditional marketing cannot match.

The tools have become more user friendly and robust, allowing anyone with something to say, to have their message heard. Below you will find a list of some of the benefits of using these social media tools and which ones may not appeal to your business model. Have a look, think we’re missing something, let us know!

Blog

Examples : Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr

Pros
  • Unlimited space to work with. (No 140 character limit here!)
  • Ability to offer feature-rich content, such as video, flash, images, etc.
  • Will work on anyone’s web browser and most mobile devices.
  • Most blogs offer RSS feeds which can be used in RSS Readers, to populate other websites with content, etc.
Cons
  • You’ll look at the clock and wonder where the last 2 hours went.
  • Writers block exists, even when writing for a blog. Trust me.
  • Some HTML knowledge is a must, especially if you want to add any advanced functionality.
  • Set a schedule for your posts, because you will need to regularly update.

Facebook

Website : www.Facebook.com

Pros
  • 400 million users.  ‘Nuff said.
  • Word-of-mouth is the most effective form of advertising, and is a very large component of Facebook, with its ‘fan’ and sharing system.
  • Ability to connect with potential customers on a more personal level, through the Discussion Boards, Wall and Comments.
  • Integration of Facebook with a blog or website is becoming easier and easier.
Cons
  • Frequent moderation is required.
  • Don’t disappear for a few weeks, or you might find everyone else has as well.
  • While not incredibly important, having a solid friend base will help grow your presence quickly, at least at first.

Twitter

Website : www.Twitter.com

Pros
  • Updating your Twitter status from nearly any device imaginable makes it incredibly versatile.
  • Analytic tools allow for very robust tracking.
  • Integration with Facebook, among hundreds of other websites and tools.
  • Nearly instant updates to your ‘Followers’.
Cons
  • Limit of only 140 characters, which can be restrictive, especially when including URL’s.
  • Fine line between not updating enough and being annoyingly persistent.
  • Still regarded as a more tech-savvy tool.

Social Bookmarking

Examples : Digg, Stumbleupon, Fark, Delicious, Reddit, MANY more

Pros
  • Potential to reach thousands of viewers instantly, and more through sharing. (Liking, Digging, etc.)
  • Certain websites, such as Su.pr (via Stumbleupon) offer their own analytic tools allowing for more detailed information than other analytic packages.
Cons
  • Potential time wasters. Spending 5 minutes ’stumbling’ can turn into 30, VERY easily.
  • There are well over 300 similar websites, linking to every one of them can obviously be very time consuming.
  • Time spent keeping track of accounts, posts and comments can also add up, fast.
  • Links can get overlooked easily.  Make sure you post with an interesting title, and in a relevant subject (if available).
  • Unless your website or link can handle it, an influx of thousands of visitors can bring down a server.  This is a nice problem to have though!

LinkedIn

Pros
  • The audience is very focused towards business.
  • Ability to network with other local industry professionals.
Cons
  • It’s very easy for your message to come across as spam. Keep conversation light.
These are some of the most widely used social media tools. Not every business will need to use them all, but they are available for those who do. Also, it’s slow and steady who wins the race, so never feel discouraged if you don’t see website traffic or conversions jump 200% in the first week.  Building a loyal fan base takes time, but once you have a steady stream of visitors, you can create leads that were perhaps previously unavailable.

Try it out, you are only denying yourself the potential for something great if you don’t.