Entry9;Pros and cons of different social media applications

Social media has quickly become an essential tool for businesses to get their brands out there among the masses. Many companies both large and small are jumping onto the bandwagon with reckless abandon, often to mixed results. So how do you make the most of your social media presence? The key is in what platforms you choose to adopt. With so many different social media options out there, each one offers unique advantages and drawbacks. Once you know what type of audience you want to attract for your business, you'll be able weigh the pros and cons and select a platform that's right for you.

Facebook

Pros: Obviously, Facebook is the most popular social network out there (more than one billion users and counting), so making a Facebook page means putting your product before the most people. Facebook also offers handy tools to help you track your fans and gauge page statistics. It's also a great platform for running contests and competitions (check out Nu Skin's Facebook page for a good example of this).

Cons: Facebook practically necessitates interacting with fans, so if you don't have the personnel to engage on the network, it might not be the best choice. Facebook is also best suited for mobile devices, which can often adversely affect your company's Facebook page.

YouTube

Pros: YouTube is a wonderful way to interact with fans since videos are more likely to be shared and go viral. Companies can also use the site to shape customer sentiment more effectively than other social sites out there.

Cons: While videos can be entertaining and informative, they also need to be of good quality, and good quality usually requires more money and resources. Videos are also time consuming to make, while their overall effect on sales is tough to track.

Twitter

Pros: Since all updates are posted in real-time on Twitter, you can send out posts with greater frequency. Twitter also allows for a little more privacy since followers can tweet you without others seeing it. It's also a great way to respond to customer complaints or questions.