How many different channels do you use to pursue your social media goals and present your brand online to the world? As I researched this post I realised just how many social media channels there are, and how little time there would be to make the best use of all of them. That’s why I’m referring to just a handful of platforms.
US versus UK Social Media Statistics
US data from 2013 undertaken by the Pew Research Centre (a non-partisan ‘fact tank’) is relevant here. They have broken down online activity to identify who is using social networking (73% of US adults are apparently) and where they spend time: Would you say your strategy is to form links with 16% on Google +, or the 22% of adults on Linkedin (which celebrates its 11th birthday on 5 May)? Connect with the 18% of adults using Twitter? Or do you relate more with the 71% of all adults using Facebook?
According to Ofcom in the UK 55% of adults owning mobile web enabled devices use them to visit social networking sites, or networking apps. That’s a hefty segment of users who you could be reaching. Assuming you can find the right channel to engage with the demographic you have
Google+ How Is It For You?
It is a timely question as JP Mangalindan, writing online for CNN Fortune and Money, has speculated about the platform’s future in a recent tech article How productive a space is Google+ for you?
Site Statistics
We’ve all visited sites where the most recent post was six months ago. Perhaps the site’s owner looked at their site statistics, felt it wasn’t getting enough traffic and abandoned it for that reason. I wonder what signal that sends to visitors and to corporations like Google who created the site?
5 Questions For People Using Social Media To Connect With Others
So there is high take up with social media in general, although some platforms are more popular than others. All of this prompts me to ask the following:
- What story do your posts tell about your brand (well established leader in your sector, or attention worthy new entrant)?
- What timing strategy do you follow when you post to your social media sites (Weekly, or less often? Midweek, or weekend?)
- How many new visitors are you adding by posting?
- What do your visitors gain by looking at your site (insight from material you create; engagement with other peoples’ posts which you curate and repost; more information about your work)?
- When visiting your site on mobile devices do people miss out on some of the desktop content (or could they browse and even buy in both places)?
Your answers to those questions can help you assess the return on the time you invest, in creating and curating social media posts.
Feel free to browse the other ideas relating to your work and life goals in the Archive section here, on Facebook and Google+ too. Or if you are a Linkedin user you can View Roger Dennison’s profile and connect with me there.