By Alison Brown, Web Success Team

Just how complicated is social media today? It’s definitely one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world and possibly one of the most lucrative. It’s revolutionized how people connect with one another, and how people connect with each other. Most companies have their hand in some sort of social media platform, whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Yelp or Instagram. But just how complicated is it now? If you’re building a brand online, it can be hard to wrap your head around everything digital marketing has to offer. It can be difficult to choose where to begin, and how to achieve the results your company desires. However, by following just a few simple steps, the job may not be so overwhelming after all.

Get Familiar

If you’re new to social media and digital marketing, getting familiar with all the platforms can be quite a daunting task. Social media platforms are always changing, so if you aren’t good with technology then this can prove to be especially challenging. One way to start getting familiar is to open several accounts with the major players and begin by doing some exploring. When you sign up for a Facebook account it walks you through the whole process of creating a profile and finding friends. Twitter is also pretty straight forward, so as soon as you create an account you can start Tweeting, as long as your message isn’t more than 140 characters. If you want to build up a following for your account, it’s as simple as following the right people and tweeting with relevant hash tags.

Get Organized

Getting organized can sometimes be the hardest part. If you’re trying to build a brand online then the social media platforms you focus on will depend on your industry. Though regardless of your industry, one platform you must not going with out is Yelp. It allows users to review your company and a lot of people check reviews on here before deciding on which business they want to use. Facebook is also similar in importance as a good way for people to uncover a company’s culture. You can visit a company’s Facebook page and with minutes, see how you interact with customers, view photos of your establishment, and see what kind of content you are posting. If you choose a few platforms and organize strong profiles, you might be surprised by the positive feedback you receive.

Hire a Firm

Still confused? Hire a firm. With social media evolving everyday plus our busy schedules, it’s hard to find the time to sit down and really dedicate a lot of time to learning about social media. There are a lot of firms out there that are experts in social media strategy, online marketing and search engine optimization. Digital marketing is definitely the future of marketing in general, so make sure your company doesn’t get left behind. Strong online and social media presence will certainly increase your chances in finding new clients, while also strengthening relationships with current ones.

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