Most people are familiar with the big names in social networking – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. But what many of us don’t realize is that there are many other social networking sites that can be used to promote your business website and drive traffic and sales. In fact, many of these overlooked social networking sites might fit our needs better than Facebook and the other big social players.
Overlooked social networking sites for eCommerce websites
Pinterest – while many of us already know that Pin-It buttons are a great way to share and promote products, Pinterest also has Pinterest for Business and Pinterest Propel that takes it all to the next level. Pinterest for Business is different from your personal account. In addition to a different set of Terms of Services, you also have access to Pinterest Analytics, Rich Pins and a library of education marketing materials that teach you how to promote your business on Pinterest.
Instagram – with over 300 million monthly users, Instagram offers you both the platform and community to interact with shoppers. If you already have a personal Instagram account, it’s best to set up a separate account for your business. This allows you to keep your business Instagram account pure-business.
Snapchat – Snapchat is a social media platform that allows users to send temporary, seconds-long images and videos (called Snaps) to other users. It is more widely used among millennials. So, if this is your target audience, then you may want to consider including Snapchat in your marketing plans. You can create a brilliant Snap Ad, build a fun Sponsored Geofilter, or even a Sponsored Lens.
Reddit – Reddit is very different compared to Facebook and Twitter. Reddit is a social forum site. For many users, it is a great way to stay on the pulse of the Internet and to get answers from highly engaged niche communities. For example, there are a lot of people on Reddit asking about potential purchases, especially when it comes to electronics, tech gadgets and appliances. In addition to participating in the forums, you can also use Reddit Ads to target people based on the subreddits they’ve subscribed to. Another popular social forum site is Quora.
Overlooked social networking sites for entrepreneurs
Yelp – Yelp is becoming increasingly competitive as a playground for local and international businesses alike. Millions of users visit Yelp monthly to check-in, write reviews, and rate different businesses such as restaurants, hotels and entertainment. It also helps, too, that Yelp is featured on both Google’s and Yahoo’s search engines anytime you look for local establishments.
Live video streams – Let’s face it, we are all addicted to video, and the growing trend now is live video streams: content broadcast in real-time. Live streaming video is a great way to interact with your audience in real time. For example, sharing live events with your customers not only allows them to watch the event, but also be a part of it. You can also do short live interviews with employees or clients to increase engagement and give a behind-the-scenes look of your business. If live video streaming is something that interests you, you can check out these platforms: Facebook Live, Instagram Live Video, YouTube Live, and Livestream.