Being new to social media can be quite overwhelming. Follow a few good tips for best practices and you’ll be a pro in no time.

When it comes to social media it appears that anything goes. If you are new to the social media world you could be easily led astray by bad blogs, social pages that resemble a place to vent frustrations, and sites that seem to jump on every popular topic of the day except what their site’s focus should be.

Take a look, instead, at some of the more solid social media presences out there and use them as a guide. You’ll want to bring business to your company through a professional brand image that instills confidence in your potential customers.

1) Focus on the Target

Look carefully at your target market when deciding which social media form to use. For example, if you sell restorative hardware for Victorian rehabilitation projects, your market will most likely make use of websites and social media pages with feeds from construction type companies with videos and photos.

If your company specializes in art prints, using links and twitter feeds pointing to your website might work well. Determine what type social media your likely customers would use and focus your attention there.

2) Be a Regular Presence

It will take patience to develop a following for your social media sites. Beyond building an awesome profile and putting out some very impressive blog posts, you’ll need to continue to give regular attention to your sites. By being a regular presence and building exponential numbers of followers, friends, and likes, you will in turn impress more newcomers to your site.

Communicate every day via your social media forms. When users see that you are monitoring your sites and responding on a regular basis, they form an impression of a busy and successful business presence.

3) Encourage Social Media Discussions

The goal of social media as it relates to your business is to draw a customer base into your realm. People love social media because it allows them to give comments and receive feedback. It’s a means of connecting, so don’t hesitate to encourage discussion.

Spend a little time responding to comments, tweets, and emails each day, or hire someone who can do it for you in a professional manner reflecting the general principles of your company mission. Encouraging others to join in on conversations makes them feel part of your process.

These are 3 great ways to build loyalty to your brand, and grow your business from a small start up to a powerhouse presence in your market.