Social Media Underdogs: 2 Powerful Tools That You Should Use More Often
We’re in the thick of a social media revolution. By now, everyone from NASA to your local dry cleaner’s is taking advantage of Facebook, Twitter, and countless other platforms to crazy ends. Advertisements and commercial slots have transformed into retweets and viral videos, all with limitless potential to catapult brands to success.
With such a wide array of tools out there, it can be daunting to figure out which work best for you. The good news? Promoting a brand has never been easier than it is now. As a business owner with a mission to grow, you’d be wise to stay on top of the latest and greatest trends on the social media landscape and utilize all the tools available to promote yourself.
The Art of Social Media
- 9 min reading time
- audio version available
The Art of Social Media by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick dives into general social media best practices—like blogging tips and embarrassment-proof usernames—and also clues us in on two social tools you’re probably not using, but should be.
If you haven’t discovered the magical promotional powers of Google+ Hangout On Air and TweetChat yet, here’s how to do it the right way.
The social media TV broadcast: Google+ Hangout On Air
How did the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu speak to thousands of people at once around the world, without a TV broadcast? They did it by rocking their own show on Google+ Hangout On Air (HOA). HOA can act as a dynamic tool for you and your business—especially when you have plenty to say.
Before starting your first chat, make sure you’ve invested in the right video equipment. The last thing you want is to give potential customers or followers is a grainy face and muffled audio. Put your best message forward with a quality webcam, microphone, and lighting setup.
Next, plan the contents of your HOA and advertise the talk beforehand. You might start by making an event page, mentioning the talk on other social media channels, or even putting together a trailer and sharing it. You can then gauge who’s most interested in watching, and tailor your contents toward them. For example, if many small business owners are attending your Facebook event, you can gear some of your points toward them.
The easy way to make a big connection: TweetChat
TweetChat is a fantastic way to expand authority and gain exposure for your business via Twitter. As a host, you tweet questions along with a hashtag, and a guest responds with the same hashtag. Audience members can join the discussion by searching for the hashtag and chiming in with comments. In short, it’s like hosting a live Q&A with anyone around the world.
To make your chat a success, familiarize yourself with the basics of Twitter (i.e. don’t forget to mention the person you’re addressing by using the @ feature). Also, slow typists beware! If you can’t keep up with the pace of the live chat, bring in someone who can.
Are you taking advantage of all that’s out there in social media land? Find out in The Art of Social Media by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick, or read the book’s best insights in the Blinkist summary.
