Small Business | Forum « If you could only use one social media platform in 2012…

If you could only use one social media platform in 2012… (24 posts)

Topic tags: 2012, goals, social media platform

Rich Brooks said
1 year, 5 months ago:
what would it be and why?
I’m talking social networking platforms like Twitter, FB, LI and G+, as well as blogging and video.
Bonus question…what would you do with all your free time?!?
@rich-brooks | # | Top
Jeff Korhan said
1 year, 5 months ago:
Even though my target audience is sparsely represented on Google+, that is the one I would use.
Why? Because moving forward it is going to be the most powerful way to rank highly in Google search results – and that is where a lot of my leads come from, as well as what drives the majority of traffic to my primary site.
While I enjoy my time on Facebook and Twitter, they aren’t generating many leads due to filtering (FB) and noise (Twitter).
My primary site is my blog. I don’t consider that a social network – but an online magazine.
@jeff-korhan | # | Top
Don Purdum said
1 year, 5 months ago:
@rich-brooks
Hi Rich! I guess it would be LinkedIn. Since we are a B2B company, we established a great following and it’s easier to talk to an audience that is very receptive to us there.
@donpurdum | # | Top
Valerie Joy Deveza said
1 year, 5 months ago:
@rich-brooks Argh! tough question eh! Although I love twitter and google+, I think I need to asses first where my target audience are most in. In my past time I read books, watch webinars and study more about how I can leverage social media. -> a nerd indeed!
@valeriejoydeveza | # | Top
Darrell Ellens said
1 year, 5 months ago:
LinkedIn is my first choice, of course being in the B2B environment it’s an easy choice. Starting a few groups have been exceptionally rewarding.
I have been on many different webinars on how to use Linkedin. Each presenter seems to have a different take on how to use it. This really helps, I always learn something new. I make a point of allowing some time after each webinar to implement some new suggestions.
What surprised me the most is how many people read every article posted to the group. They don’t always leave comments of likes. I speak with a lot of them over the phone as well, and when ever I bring up a previous discussion, I am just amazed on how many of them I can talk to about the discussion in detail.
Google+ would be my second choice, but I am not overly active in it yet.
@darrellellens | # | Top
Alan Martin said
1 year, 5 months ago:
Good question! We are a B2B company so again LinkedIn is best for leads but Twitter is fantastic for my own CPD and to be kept up to date with what’s going on in the world of social media. The key with Twitter is cutting thorough the clutter. I use Twitter lists to make sure don’t miss important developments.
@chatmarketing | # | Top
Debbie Hemley said
1 year, 4 months ago:

@rich-brooks Good question! I see different networks working particularly well for different industries and I think that is one of the considerations (albeit a tough one right now) for businesses to take into consideration.
For myself, right now I’ve been more and more intrigued with Google+ over the past few months. I’m still dabbling a little in all of them but at some point I think I’ll need to assess where it makes most sense to be.
@debbie-hemley | # | Top
Dewane Mutunga said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@rich-brooks
Without a doubt it would be Google +
Why? Social Search
Bonus: I’d read more in my spare time.
@mutunga | # | Top
Dea Irby said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@jeff-korhan @rich-brooks @mutunga @valeriejoydeveza yes, Valerie aaarrrggghhh! Thanks, Jeff for the note about getting higher on google search with google plus! I don’t know how to use LI very well and my main “business” right now is a blog.
@deairby | # | Top
Heather Wright-Porto said
1 year, 4 months ago:
For me, I think blogging.
I know FB doesn’t have SEO built-in yet (LOL, sure it will come) like the pull that Google+ has. But for me, I’m centered all around blogging My business is all about blogging how-to articles. So I’m pretty focused in that area.
Heather
@blogsbyheather | # | Top
Carla Peterson said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Blogging, because it’s what I most want to learn well and be good at for now. It holds the greatest promise for my very small business which is focused on soul work in person or over the internet.
spare time? reading
Carla
@carlajoyfarm | # | Top
Mary C. Weaver, CSCS said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@rich-brooks Very challenging question! (Although the one about free time is comparatively easy: reading or working out)
Probably Facebook because it’s the best fit for my audience (women over 40). I definitely spend more time on Twitter, and there are so many more tools that make it easy to share curated content there.
Blogging is definitely the best way for me to share my original content, but I’m not counting it because to me it’s quite a different medium.
@themusclediva | # | Top
Shantel Turner-Collins said
1 year, 4 months ago:
If I could only use one social platform it would be Facebook. With Facebook I have more options for connecting with potential customers. I’m able to showcase my work on my personal page, through my fan page through various groups that I’m apart of, as well as community pages. I have built solid networking relationships with several business owners on Facebook who share links to my products and links for my promotions on their personal pages and fan pages as well.
Now with all the free time I’d have I’d spend every ounce with my little girl!!
@shantelturner-collins | # | Top
Mike Sansone said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Several have said Google+. I agree without hesitation. The tools available (and how they work), the data available, the search results coming …
I’m of the opinion that everyone uses Google in some form or fashion. Using Google+ will reach your intended audience, whether they are already part of your audience or still yet-to-come.
While I don’t think Google+ is a “social platform” – the social platform aspect of Google+ is where I’d go if I could only choose one.
@mikesansone | # | Top
Kim Starry said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Great question. I love Facebook and Twitter. However I think Google+ is where we’ll need to be, just like @jeff-korhan said. So, I will definitely be putting more efforts there in the coming year.
@kstarry | # | Top
Nancy Stuckwisch said
1 year, 4 months ago:
It’s going to be FB for me. My clients and customer are not on the cutting edge of SM, and I want to concentrate on where they do hang out.
@nancystuckwisch | # | Top
Kathy Weir said
1 year, 4 months ago:
As of now I would recommend Facebook to my clients. Their target market does not appear to be on Google+, but this could change over time. My concern with Google+ is abandonment by Google and most of their execs, according to what I have read, are not using it. Do you think this is urban legend?
@kathyweir | # | Top
Laura Christianson, Blogging Bistro said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Definitely blogging. I’ve been blogging steadily since the dark ages of blogging (2004) and it continues to be the best way to deliver “meaty” content, to nurture relationships and build trust among my clientele.
Twitter and Facebook continue to serve as great referral sources to point my followers to specific blog posts.
@laurachristianson | # | Top
Theodore R Sturos II said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@rich-brooks I am going to have to go with Facebook! I am guessing half of us logged in to this club using Facebook… I know I did, it’s all about convenience now days. In my free time… Ehhhh I should probably say working out!
@theodoresturos | # | Top
Denise Sonnenberg said
1 year, 4 months ago:
I might consider using Google+, just to learn it more completely and build up my relationships on it. Of course I have to have my hands tied behind my back to keep me away from using the rest.
@whitsonn | # | Top
Cindy King said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@rich-brooks At this stage I feel like I want to go back to some classic networking… sort of like adapting my normal networking skills to these platforms. Twitter used to be my favorite for this. But I think I’m going to move to LinkedIn now. The people I want to reach seem to have moved.
Funny you ask about where I’d spend any free time… I can’t wait to have some to do 2 things: set up a Pinterest account and set up a content curation YouTube channel and both are for one of my hobbies.
@cindy-king | # | Top
April Lynne Scott said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@rich-brooks I agree with @jeff-korhan – Google+ seems like the “correct” answer for SEO and other usability reasons, but my reality is that clients, customers and colleagues are not there yet. In 2012 I hope Google+ will emerge with the 400Mill users they’re predicting – but if it doesn’t come through I’ll have to go with Twitter for networking and conversation – Facebook for marketing and engagement… Currently FB still shows better ROI for most clients, but the field is leveling…
@aprillynnescott | # | Top
Rick Mosca said
1 year, 4 months ago:
For my business I would definitely choose Linkedin, our target audience is B2B
@rlmosca | # | Top
Jeff Korhan said
1 year, 4 months ago:
After listening to a podcast today with @johnjantsch and Chris Brogan, author of the recently released Google+ for business, I was reminded of a comment Guy Kawasaki made at Blogworld LA: You interact with your friends on Facebook – but you engage with those with whom you share common (business) interests on Google+.
It’s a great place to kick off a conversation that can lead to new business – just as some are doing here with SME clubs.
@jeff-korhan | # | Top