Social NETWORK vs. social PLATFORM and how to use both

What's the difference between a social network and a social platform? Is there a difference at all. YES! There certainly is.

Social networks are more like real-life networking events. Some examples are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Pinterest to some degree.

Social platforms allow for establishing credibility and expertise while creating an opportunity for engagement and discussion. YouTube, blogging, podcasts and SlideShare are perfect examples of social platforms.

Use these social sites by analyzing ONE network and ONE platform that your audience is using. Start by maintaining and cultivating contacts via your chosen sites before moving on to others.

Need more ideas? Just give me a ring.

Getting started on Pinterest

Before you get started creating boards on Pinterest, here are some general-themed boards to consider creating for your audience:

• Other interests If you sell cooking ware, your clients are probably into food and recipes. Give them a little something extra that's still relevant to your product.
• Education Pin things that are insightful, new findings or just fun facts to know.
• Events Whether organized by you or that are taking place in your area, be a resource for what's up and coming.
• Feature new products or services Got something new to offer? Share it!
• Business culture Give your audience an extra treat by sharing some "behind the scenes" pictures or insight about how your business works.
•  Give back Create a board for your clients. Feature them and let them share their experiences of working with you.

Social media marketing in just 30 minutes

I know how it is. At the start of the work day you have every intention to finally catch-up on your social media marketing. Somehow, as the day goes on, you do manage to schedule new clients, prepare invoices and write a presentation, but ... where did the time for social media go?! Well let me ask you, do you have 30 minutes a day to spare? That's all it takes to have a good, strong social media presence.

Don't waste another minute and start following these tips on the infographic below:

• 10 minutes on Twitter to respond, schedule and share
• 6 minutes on Facebook to like and share
• 6 minutes on LinkedIn to promote, comment and question
• 4 minutes on Pinterest to pin and interact
• 2 minutes on GooglePlus to share and converse
• 2 minutes on Instagram to share visual content

Your Social Media Dimensions Cheat Sheet [infographic]

We all know how important images are when posting on social media. Photos get four times more engagement as just posting an update! But what you see on your computer may look different once posted to Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn. Each of these platforms has very specific image size guidelines for each kind of image you can upload. Follow the guide below to maximize your visual exposure.

Creating the perfect post (infographic)

A post on Facebook has different "anatomy" than a tweet on Twitter. A pin on Pinterest isn't the same as a post on Google+. Learn how to optimize your content for each network with this infographic.