Facebook LinkedIn Twitter: Which Network Is Best For You?

If you’re new to social media marketing and trying to figure out where to start, it can be a daunting task. There are so many different sites; where do you go first?

Even if there is a social media site devoted specifically to your industry or teeming with your target market, I still think you need to be using at least one of the “big three” – Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. And unlike the big three automakers, these three are not running out of steam. They are growing by leaps and bounds, with no signs of stopping.

The hardest choice is between LinkedIn and Facebook. LinkedIn has a more professional feel. You include a professional bio and can get professional recommendations from people in your network. Notice how many times I’ve used the word professional? While there are people who have quirky job titles and humorous job descriptions on their LinkedIn profile, for the most part, LinkedIn users treat their profile as an online resume or marketing page. You should too.

LinkedIn is set up to make it difficult to contact people you don’t know because they want it to be a networking site, not a spam site. The only photo on your LinkedIn site is your profile and it really had better be a professional looking one. No avatars or goofy shots of you in your Halloween costume please.

If you are B2B (business to business), in other words, you provide a service or product geared towards other businesses, LinkedIn is probably the best place for you to start. This is particularly true if your target market is larger corporations rather than microbusinesses or if you’re in the technology field… Read More