Did you know that, according to a 2013 Social Media Examiner report, social media increases 89% of companies’ exposure, and generates up to 64% more leads? Just about everyone is on Facebook, and, in fact, Facebook boasts as many as 684,478 shares in any given minute. Social media platforms offer companies a considerable amount of opportunity. It is simple; if you do not take advantage of these opportunities, your competitors will. How can small and medium-sized businesses keep up?

Get on Image-Based Social Media

Our brains process images much faster than text. In fact, images are typically processed up to 60,000 times faster. Moreover, 90% of all information sent to the brain is visual. It is no wonder, then, that image-based platforms, such as Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr, are rapidly increasing in popularity. There are over 70 million accounts on Pinterest alone, and Pinterest users spend $80-$100 more than the average user originating from Facebook. Small business social media should pay careful attention to trends, and one of the most significant trends is image-based sharing.

Use Social Media The Right Way

What is social media marketing? Social media marketing uses a number of different social media platforms to increase business exposure, improve search rankings, and generate more leads. One of the most popular social media sites, among consumers and companies alike, is Twitter. An alarming number of companies, moreover, are using Twitter incorrectly.

According to Pew, over 98% of all tweets from The New York Times, NPR, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The Huffington Post contain links to content. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but companies should also keep in mind the original intent of Twitter, to invite conversation. True, social media for businesses and social media for typical users is likely to differ. The goal, though, is to blur these lines as much as possible, and encourage users to share and contribute. Small businesses can level the playing field by asking Twitter users to participate in contests and challenges, using a iconic Twitter hashtag to increase exposure.

Social media for businesses, including social media for small businesses, should be effective and subtle. Establish a presence on growing image-based sites, and make sure to use social media for its intended purpose.