People are spending more and more time online, and it’s becoming increasingly important to get your brand in front of them in the places where they are spending the most time. One of the most fundamental ways to do this is to start by building profiles on the major social media outlets that reflect the details of your product. You can then take advantage of the opportunities to get your business in front of a larger audience.

Here’s an overview of the most popular and effective social media venues when it comes to keeping your business on the radar of potential customers.

Facebook

The sheer number of prospective customers on Facebook makes it a must in your social media networking arsenal. Adult participation by those who own a computer or smartphone is estimated to be as high as 68 percent. Any business worth its salt has a Facebook presence in addition to a website, and you want to be one of them. Not only that, web crawlers and search engines actually consider Facebook presence when calculating search results.

Instagram

Instagram has a younger demographic than Facebook, so it’s particularly valuable as a marketing outlet for products that appeal to millennials. Since being acquired by Facebook, Instagram has become even more versatile as a marketing tool. That’s because you can link the two social media platforms, broadcasting Facebook photos and the accompanying text to your Instagram account.

Pinterest

Similar to Instagram, Pinterest is a visually-oriented social media platform. This is the place to display the most appealing photos of your business. Pinterest can also drive traffic to your landing page because you can link each photo to your website. Women are the main audience on Pinterest, and that can make it an effective marketing platform for the types of buying decisions they make. Pinterest is also a direct sales channel, with tools like ‘Buy It’ buttons and options like converting pins into ads.

Twitter

Like other social media outlets, Twitter gives you a platform for getting the message out about your product or service. But it’s also a tool for finding out what people are saying about your company and competitors. Feedback about what customers like and don’t like is invaluable when it comes to giving them what they want. By liking and commenting on other Twitter posts, you can also network and develop useful business contacts.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a networking site that’s been slow to take off, but it’s begun to have an impact in the professional world. It’s more than just a place to look for a job, although that’s a prime focus of the site. The most effective tool for a business is the ability to blog about the industry they represent. Your chosen LinkedIn representative can even develop a following on the platform, making it a great tool to draw organic interest to your company.

An Inexpensive Marketing Tool

Using social media a cost-effective way to get your product or service in front of an audience, and the platform is free. It’s also a useful way to keep the lines of communication open between you and your customers. It’s a boost for your company’s web traffic because of click-throughs, and it also keeps your business on the radar of search engines. Social media as an advertising outlet is here to stay, and it’s now become an integral part of any marketing course, along with traditional strategies like product management, branding, and logistics.