Social media has become an extremely important tool in the marketing world. People use social media on a daily basis and companies have realized that it is far easier to reach and engage with consumers via social media than on TV, radio or any other form of traditional advertising. Besides ease, it is also a more efficient way to engage with followers or prospective consumers. Popular social networks include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Customers have come to expect and rely on brands to be there for them via social media.

One big way companies are using social media is for recruitment. In 2013, 92% of companies say they recruit via social media.[1] LinkedIn leads the way in this department as the number one professional networking website. 73% of companies have successfully hired candidates using social media. In turn, 14.4 million people in the US have used social media to search for a job. (Check out this 2013 Social Media Facts Infographic. The infographic is used with permission from Twist Forum )

Facebook:

There are 1.15 billion users on Facebook. 189 million Facebook users are mobile only users. The opportunities to reach consumers are endless. Several other interesting statistics are that 54% of all marketers have acquired a customer through Facebook this year; 50% of users log in to Facebook on any given day; and 23% of users check their Facebook 5 times a day or more.

Companies can create their own Facebook pages to gain followers. Companies can share content with their followers, which leads to interaction. Posting coupons or deals on Facebook is a great way to gain many new followers in a short time. Companies can also connect with their fans through ads. Facebook allows companies to pay for sponsored ads as well, which helps increase viewership.

Look at how Wayne State University School of Business Administration is doing on Facebook. Don't forget to "Like" us! We would appreciate it!!

Twitter:

36% of all marketers have found a customer via Twitter in 2013. Twitter is a place for you to tell your companies story daily. (Click on the Coca-Cola image to connect with Coca-Cola on Twitter.) Twitter helps companies connect directly with customers. Twitter users can tweet with companies directly. It is a good way for consumers to voice feedback and for companies to respond. Twitter also helps drive traffic to the company’s website. Companies can share photographs and videos with their followers as well. Hashtags can be used to get your company trending or product trending.

Take a look at how Wayne State University School of Business Administration is using Twitter. Don't forget to "Follow Us".

Youtube:

Youtube allows companies to post videos to their consumers. Consumers love videos and can make a video go viral, which can provide a great deal of exposure to a company. Entertaining a consumer is a great way to advertise to them. Youtube can be used for brand awareness and also for customer support. (Check out the Old Spice videos on YouTube.)

LinkedIn:

LinkedIn helps companies acquire new customer for their businesses as well as find new employees. There are over 200,000,000 LinkedIn users. LinkedIn offers sponsored updates, which raise awareness and help build relationships. They also help you connect companies with the world’s largest audience of professionals. LinkedIn offers precision B2B targeting and they offer text, image and video ads. You can tailor your ad target market by geography, job function, seniority or industry. Additionally, companies can also pay to post open positions on the job site. They can purchase a recruiting account, which provides them better access to job candidates. (Check out PWC's report on The New Digital Ecosystem.)