Friday, March 21, 2014

You don't need to be on every social media platform!



By Kristen Paquet: Senior Account Executive, Leonard & Finco Public Relations
The other day, as I often do, I picked up my son’s iPod to check out his social media accounts and noticed a new platform, Kik. Kik, for those that don’t know, is basically another chat site geared toward a younger demographic. It’s really no different than about a million other social platforms out there; it’s not even that different than sending a text message! When I asked my son why he’s on Kik, his answer was simple: “Because everyone else is.”

That answer really got me thinking about how some businesses use social media and how many are on certain platforms for no other reason than because everyone else is. Really? That is the strategy you use? I think that for some, social media is a confusing and ever-changing concept that can be so overwhelming that it’s just easier to follow the crowd. Or we hear about the latest and greatest in social media and instantly feel the need to have a presence on it. These are the businesses that are being led by the fear of missing out instead of taking an analytical look at how a certain social platform can help them meet business goals.

To know whether you are on the right platform(s) or not, try answering a few simple questions:
  • Is my main audience using it?
  • Can creative and different content be developed and kept up with on a regular basis?
  • Is there time to monitor and engage the online audience every day?

If you’re struggling with your online presence, it might be because you have too many platforms to maintain or you are on the wrong one. Don’t be led by fear; be smart about your social plan so the platforms you do engage with will give you the results you are looking for.

Is there such a thing as being on too many social platforms? What do you think?

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