Social media for business in 2013 (and what we’ve learned from 2012)

What should you be considering when it comes to your business’ social media marketing in 2013? To help you decide, here are five areas which came to the fore in 2012 and which we think should be on your radar for 2013.

1. The rise of LinkedIn
2012 has been the year for LinkedIn. We’ve had more enquiries for training on how to use LinkedIn correctly than any other network and hearing how people have got business as a result. LinkedIn has finally got onto people’s radar – not as an online CV, but as a way to build genuine business. Research says two thirds of professionals are now on LinkedIn and we predict these numbers will continue to grow.

2. The need for a social media strategy being recognised
In 2011 we trained a lot of businesses in how to use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. In 2012 companies wanted to know why, where and how they should use social media BEFORE being learning about the mechanics of the networks. Managing directors and marketing bosses began to appreciate how, if they wanted their social media activities to succeed, they shouldn’t just dive in. We expect demand for social media strategy workshops to continue to increase in 2013.

3. Facebook becoming more crowded.
Since Status Social was formed two years ago we’ve taught people that it’s best to run their own Facebook pages. Today, that’s not necessarily true. As it continues to grow, Facebook has become a crowded marketplace. Businesses struggle to make themselves heard above the noise of everything else going on in the network. Two years ago, it was recommended pages didn’t post more than once a day for fear of alienating their audience. Nowadays, we recommend that businesses post at least three times a day if they want to hit their audience. Recently, we told one international business that they ideally should be posting eight times a day to reach Facebook users across the world. For small businesses with limited resources, this is impossible. As a result, more and more people are realising they need to get someone to manage their Facebook accounts.

4. The decline of Facebook and Twitter training
There’s been a real drop in Facebook and Twitter training requirements in 2012 and we fear it’s for the wrong reasons. Because the networks have been around for such a long time, it seems people think they know what they’re doing. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case. Businesses still think every Facebook update is seen by all their fans. Too many Twitter accounts still just sell, sell, sell. We predict it will only be the more astute businesses that will seek Facebook and Twitter training in 2013.

5. Google+ awareness rising
There’s been a lot of confusion over Google+. There’s been so much talk about it, millions of people have accounts, yet very few people seem to be using it. But what businesses are realising is that with the power of Google behind it, they have to take it seriously. We believe there will be a greater demand for Google+ training workshops in 2013.

What do you think will be big in social media marketing in 2013? What are you considering for your business? Let us know below.

Mark Saxby is the co-owner of Status Social, the Midlands’ leading social media agency. To find out more about what Status Social does, click here.