The meteoric rise of social media means that today we have an array of platforms immediately available at our fingertips. For many, this rise has been a godsend, as the freedom of speech offered by channels such as Twitter and Facebook has even sparked dramatic social change during events such as the Arab Spring of 2010–12.

For other folks, however, it can be difficult getting up to the electric speed of the Internet age. For small businesses who want to harness the marketing potential of social media, it can be a headache deciding which social platform will bring you and your brand the most success. Here’s our guide to social media platforms, allowing you to decide which ones will pack the best punch for your business in the online world.

LinkedIn
With over 500 million members LinkedIn is a business and employment-oriented service that operates via websites and mobile apps. Founded on December 28, 2002, and launched on May 5, 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking, including employers posting jobs and job seekers posting their CVs, see Point and Stare’s dedicated LinkedIn page.

Facebook
As the largest social network, by the end of 2013 Facebook had acquired an astonishing 1.23 billion monthly users. Brands on Facebook are able to update their followers on exciting news, promotional offers, and new competitions; they can also offer insights into the business with pictures and information. With the famous “like” and “share” buttons used billions of times per day all over the Internet, Facebook is a must for all businesses if simply due to the sheer scale of the giant that the company has become.
You can, naturally, follow Point and Stare via our Facebook page.

We have only touched the tip of the iceberg in Part I, so make sure you tune into Part II of this post to discover what Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram can do for you in the social media world.

 
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