Home topics technology social-media-blogs Social Media Strategy Social Media Make the most of social media: Four steps Anna Cairo May 15, 2012 Social media use is on the rise. Statistics show that in Australia there are some 11 million Facebook users, over 2 million LinkedIn users and some 1.8 million Twitter users, with new social networks such as Pinterest and Instagram also gaining traction fast. This is tremendous pool of customers for any business to tap into. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses fail at social media. They may have a presence, but that doesn’t mean they’re using it as well as they could for a number of reasons. When businesses don’t engage with their customers and fail to create two-way communication, they’re merely using social media as an advertising platform instead of a tool to build relationships. In order to get the most out of social media, here are four initial points that are crucial for successful implementation. 1. Embrace social media Social media is here to stay – it’s not a fad. Sure, its uses and capabilities will be different in five years, but it’s not going anywhere. It has far-reaching influence and if used correctly as a ‘social’ tool, it can help your business to grow. It assists businesses to get closer to and connect with their target markets and helps to build brands more efficiently and effectively. By learning to listen, engage and respond to customers on social media platforms, businesses can establish themselves more effectively in