Promoting Your Brand Isn't All About Facebook and Twitter

Promoting your brand is an essential part of your business.

You not only have to create it, prep it and sell it - you've got to promote your product.

Over the years, marketing has made a huge transition from print media and TV/radio media to social media. Don't let this new marketing slip by you.

Everyone is pretty familiar with the big names in the social media world - Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. But there are plenty of others. And it's not just the social media you use, but how you use it. Let's take a look.

Depending on your business and your brand, you can not only find some other forms of social media to be chatty on, but also some great niche sites.

For instance. ...

• Tagstr - This app is a new social media platform that lets people share (like Instagram) photos, video and audio. The key to Tagstr is that through the use of hashtags, albums are created. It reaches out to more than just a social circle or "friends." Whoever is interested in a certain subject, be it #coffee or #paperbagbusiness, can contribute to the album. It's a great place for small business owners to share, learn and engage.

• Ryze - This is a social media site for entrepreneurs. Though you may not gain tons of marketing, you will have a place to find what works, foster connections with those with similar interests and a place to network, gain advice and find valuable resources.

• Pinterest - Yes, Pinterest does fall into the big name categories, but many business owners overlook it, thinking it's for stay at home moms and brides planning weddings. If you have a visually appealing product, you should be using Pinterest as much as any other social media site. This is an excellent platform for promoting your brand.

Learn How to Maneuver the Sites

You also need to know how to work the sites.

It's important to post interesting, engaging content on a regular basis. If you don't think you can stay organized to do so with everything else your business requires of you, think about automating.

As the following article shows, here are 3 great tools to automate your social media:

• Post Planner - This automation tool helps with Facebook. You can predetermine times for your posts to go out, identify relevant, trending content, and deliver content in an effective, organized way.

• Hootsuite - This tool helps you to schedule all of your social media updates ahead of time. You can promote your brand and engage with your audiences through your social media networks, all in a manageable platform.

• Dlvr.it - This is a useful tool to help save time in getting your posts out. Dlvr.it will send them out where you have already specified, like Twitter or Facebook. It also helps track who's clicking on your links.

It's important to not let automation take over, though.

Sure, keep some automated posts and comments rolling in, but be sure to post in real time, too. Engage in real time and use your own voice.

With the help of automation and some smaller social media in addition to the big names, you should be well on your way to a successful social media run.