Social Media How-to

By: Cristin Coons

With so many social media outlets on the Internet, it’s hard to keep focused on each one and utilize each to its full potential. As a summer intern for LACD, one of the projects that I am managing is updating our social media accounts. With my recent experiences and encounters, here is a short breakdown of how to use social media for your company, business or organization.

Facebook

As the most popular social networking site, with the projected user amount reaching 1 billion by this August, facebook is very user-friendly and interactive. With new features such as timeline and pages, more and more people are using facebook to promote their businesses and organizations. But when doing so, it’s important to keep in mind your professional brand. Be sure to use proper grammar and punctuation (unless your brand is built around the opposite) and keep your page void of any inappropriate commentary or images. There are many features that facebook offers its users (such as ads and insights), so be sure to explore them and use what benefits your company the most. 

Twitter

Twitter, though it has less users than facebook, is not far behind in popularity or usefulness. This site allows you to post tweets up to 140 characters, so be sure to use your words wisely! The same general rules apply here, comply with basic grammar and punctuation rules and stay true to your professional brand. Also make sure you are using twitter properly (i.e. don’t post lengthy tweets that are better suited for facebook or your company’s website). Instead, twitter can be used as a supplementary social media tool. Post links to interesting articles about or pertaining to your company. Tweet pictures from events or company gatherings. And be sure to promote upcoming events (with proper links to registration forms/more information).

Pinterest

This is one of the latest crazes to hit the social media sector and one that is still largely untapped for companies. One way that we plan to use pinterest here at LACD is to share products, apps, links and articles that are beneficial to students on their job/internship hunt. For your company, create boards that are cohesive and practical for your business and brand. Be sure to include links to all of the pins that you upload so that your followers can then find the product. This is especially helpful when trying to sell a product of your own. 

These are only a few tips that I’ve found helpful. Be sure to research these topics for more information as articles tend to pop up daily on the Internet about these very subjects.