Social Media Tips for Startups

By: Casey Hines | @caseyagogo The attraction of social media is high when it comes to start-up companies. With multiple free networks, there’s opportunities to reach a huge amount of people quickly. The most important content a startup should incorporate which should be the heart of each profile: the basic message of who they are, what they do, and why a potential customer should engage in their services.

Build your content first.

Before creating a Facebook page or Twitter account, a best practice is to build your base first. Practical sense dictates that your website should be developed before taking any steps on social media. Directing interested parties to your website to learn about your mission is one of the most important functions of a social media presence. In addition, your website will function as a source of content, as well as give you a starting point for the 'voice' of your content.

YouTube is your friend.

Videos are a medium that can easily spread your message and share your vision. People are visual creatures, and with YouTube being the second largest search engine on the Internet, videos about who you are and what your company is about can be incredibly helpful.

Make a plan.

It's best to form a strategy for your social media,  no matter how basic. Start with your business goals, then decide what kind of conversations you'd like to start, who you're aiming to interact with, and what kind of content you're comfortable sharing. Some companies are looking to establish a presence, others are interested in heavy interaction with their customer base. Would you like to stand out as an authority in your industry, or would you like to reach out to convert fans into customers? Starting out on social media can be a bit overwhelming, but a plan can be an effective way to make it more manageable--especially if you're looking to attract influencers and investors.

Build up the buzz.

The timeline function on Facebook is a great way to spread the news and update progress on current developments. Utilize the milestone function when important events occur--perhaps you've finally opened your office space, or are celebrating a product launch. Twitter can be used in tandem with these progress reports, and is one of the best tools to reach out to people who are interested in your company. Building a network of supporters through different portals is important. Expanding beyond Facebook and Twitter to platforms like Google+ and Pinterest is an ambitious decision that shows you're very invested in your social media presence. Again, every network can be an opportunity if it is appropriate for your brand. A company profile on LinkedIn should be a no-brainer for B2B companies. Updates and progress status can now be included on LinkedIn profiles as well.

This infographic from DailyTekk illustrates the potential of using social media in business, and even mentions the perks of outsourcing social media to a professional agency.

Leveraging social media to spread the vision of a startup is a free and far-reaching method that creates both connections and opportunities. Spending a little time building content  and presence will give your start-up  business a chance to establish a branding voice in a whole new arena of potential customers.