Instagram is the tool you can use to take, enhance and share the pictures you take. What sets it apart from Flickr is the ability to easily edit and enhance your photos so they look way more impressive. Facebook recently bought Instagram for $US1 billion.
Golden rule: Remember to get consent before you post photos of people.
LinkedIn is your professional profile, CV, recruitment tool and rolodex all-in-one. It’s often called “Facebook for work”. You can connect with all the people in your business network and it’s great because you don’t lose contact with someone when they change jobs.
Golden rule: Don’t exaggerate the facts or someone will find out you’re fibbing!
Your blog is your “voice” – it’s your chance to communicate directly with prospective buyers via your own free publishing platform.
A blog is your blank canvas to serve your community with useful information, build trust and nurture relationships. A blog provides you with the remarkable content to share on the other social networks!
Golden rule: Write useful blog articles as if you were your writing to your favourite client.
Pinterest is the new kid on the block where you can “pin” pictures of things you like to a virtual pinboard. Pinners (people use Pinterest) use it to help decorate their homes, save recipes and plan weddings. It’s the fastest growing social media platform in history and it’s still “invitation-only”!
Golden rule: Give credit where it’s due and acknowledge your sources.
There you have the social media basics. Next fortnight, we’ll look at planning your social media strategy.
Adam Franklin is the co-author of ‘Web Marketing That Works’, a professional speaker, and co-founder of Bluewire Media.
