There has been a lot of changes in social networking over the years, and every year there are a few top social networks that may become vital to your business. The digital age is all about using content to promote your brand, so it is important to know which social media outlets are crucial. I spoke with a few of my fellow entrepreneurs and came up with the top 3 social networks to watch in 2014.
1. LinkedIN
LinkedIn is absolutely dominates when it comes to professional B2B networking. This is definitely the number one social media site you want to be active on this year. If you are an entrepreneur and could only be on one social network, LinkedIn is where you want to be. The site now boasts over 225 million users and 300 industry influencers giving you the biggest bang for your buck. Not only can you research companies and their employers, but you can actually target their company’s needs and connect directly with company decision makers. There is tremendous potential for partnerships, leads and general networking by simply having a profile page. Also LinkedIn added several improvements to help companies in 2013, including sponsored updates, company page analytics and showcased pages that allow you to feature different aspects of your business.
Tip: LinkedIn Groups offer a great opportunity to join niche conversations and find valuable connections for your business. If you haven’t already, be sure to create at least one group around your business field and background.
2. Google+
Google+ is expected to be a key player in SEO this year. Although setting it up can be a little daunting at first, this social network is vital to your brand SEO. Google now ties YouTube in with your profile page, so you now have the opportunity to reach even more people online. Also, Google+ has a great hashtag feature that will show you any posts containing the hashtag you search for.
Tip: Google announced 5 days ago that you can now email anyone within your circles – even if you don’t have their email address.
3. Video and video app (Instagram, Vine and YouTube) –
Content is king for online marketing and of all the types of content you can create, video is king! YouTube is more than just a place to watch crazy viral video, it is actually a search engine. People are looking for the same information in a YouTube search as they were online. Why? Because video is better than reading! If you haven’t started using video to market yourself, you better start fast. Be sure to get familiar with creating short clips for these network. If not you will definitely fall behind!
Tip: You can now add your YouTube to your Google+ page for instant analytics and easy sharing.
