In my last post, I covered the basics for setting up a social media profile on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and promised to cover the remaining platforms in a follow-up article.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty, I want to discuss the importance of not trying to do it all when it comes to social media.
If Facebook is where you feel comfortable, and you do not have a great deal of time to dedicate to managing social media, then consider making the most of your efforts on this platform alone. It is not necessary to have a social presence everywhere, especially if your presence is lackluster at best.
Now, for those with the time and resources to dedicate to multiple social media platforms, there are several ways to make the most of a profile on Snapchat, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google Plus.
Snapchat
Snapchat is a bit tricky because it feels and functions much differently than other popular social media marketing platforms.
The content disappears in 24 hours, making it crucial for all posts to be impactful and tailored to your audience. If your target audience is comprised of millennials, start your Snapchat account this instant.
Once you’ve downloaded the app and created an account, you’ll need to verify your phone number to begin building a following from your existing contacts.
With your profile officially up and running, it’s time to customize it. Start by hitting the ghost icon at the top of your screen to begin configuring your profile. In the settings section, you will have the opportunity to enter your name, email and phone number (if you skipped this step initially).
Although you can’t add a photo of yourself to this particular profile, you can get creative by adding a Bitmoji. When you tap your Snapcode, it will give you the option to create a Bitmoji. Doing so will require downloading a different app, but it will be worth it. Using your Bitmoji will give you access to custom stickers and other tools that will help you engage with your audience.
The next thing you will want to do is find and add friends. Tap the ghost and select “add friends,” and you will see several options for growing your network.
Keep in mind that you will be able to see their stories, but they won’t be able to see yours unless they add you. On that note, you might want to set your preferences on location. If you don’t want everyone to see your location, you’ll want to change it to Custom, My Friends or Ghost Mode.
You can also add users who are nearby, or search public users by their stories.
The interesting thing about Snapchat is that users cannot see who others follow, and thus it requires a bit more effort on your end to build a strong network.
To grow your following, leverage your other social media platforms by sharing your Snapcode. With your code, it’s easy for others to follow you and begin seeing your story in their feed.
Jumping from Snapchat to LinkedIn seems like going from the South Pole to the North Pole, primarily because the content you’ll find on one platform is vastly different than the other.
LinkedIn is geared toward business professionals, giving them a way to connect with others in the same industry as them, look for jobs, fill positions, or simply to catch up on the latest news in their industry.
With plenty of business leaders and influencers in one place, it’s a great place to have a presence.
Profile
The ideal image size is 400-pixels-wide-by-400-pixels-tall. Make sure your profile picture is a professional headshot, keeping in mind that you will have to crop your profile image to a circular format.
Chose a high-resolution photo so that your image is clearly visible to users scrolling through posts quickly. Also, it needs to be said: absolutely no selfies!
Make sure you are using a professionally taken shot, preferably with you looking straight at the camera. You want to get the message across that you are trustworthy, dependable and professional — and you can’t do that with a selfie taken at the bar.
Profile cover template
The recommended size for a profile cover is 1,584-pixels-wide-by-396-pixels-tall. Don’t clutter this space with text or logos. Instead, keep the message clear and simple. If you add a logo, make sure that it is small and fits in with your brand.
Headline
You have 120 characters at the top of your profile to tell the world what you do. Don’t waste the space on putting your official job title here.
Choose descriptive keywords that will help key people find you. Choose a title like “Miami Real Estate Professional,” rather than “Real Estate Agent.” If you truly want to use the opportunity to shine, try a title like “Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert.”
Summary
This section is essentially your bio, so don’t leave it blank. Whether you write a paragraph or two on your experience, or opt to create a bulleted list of your accomplishments, make sure the information is clear and feels like you.
If you are looking to be a bit more creative, you can write a story showing users a more personal side. The reader should leave with a solid idea of who you are.
You’ll also be able to link media to this section, so take advantage of it!
Additional sections
You will have the opportunity to list your experience much like a traditional resume, including particular skills, as well as past and current employers. Add only what you feel comfortable making public.
Don’t forget to add keywords, skills, connections, your industry and location to have a fully completed profile.
YouTube
If you are thinking of uploading videos on a consistent basis, you will want to create a YouTube channel for yourself or your business.
Profile
Although it is displayed at 200-by-200-pixels, you’ll want to make sure to upload an image that is 1,000-pixels-wide-by-1,000-pixels-tall.
If you have created a Google Plus account, the photo that populates automatically will be from that account. However, you are free to change this photo. If you are creating a channel for your business, you can use your logo as the profile photo. If not, keep it consistent, and use your professional headshot.
Channel art
Recommended channel art is 2,560-pixels-wide-by-1,440-pixels-tall, with a max file size of 6 MB.
Keep in mind that this size will change depending on where it is displayed. The smallest size that it will display is 640-pixels-wide-by-175-pixels-tall.
If you plan to include any text, ensure it will not get cut off. As always, the art you create should fit within your brand. It could be an image that reflects your industry or values, or simply a tagline and logo.
Channel description
Here you will have the ability to tell other users what they can expect from subscribing to your channel. Incorporating keywords to this section is important to ensure interested users can easily find you.
You’ll also want to use this section to set viewer expectations of what benefits come with subscribing to your channel.
Lastly, you are able to add additional details by going to your channel’s advanced settings. Here you can select your country and even link your Google AdWords account.
By going to your general account settings under “connected accounts,” you’ll have the ability to add other social media profiles as well.
Once you’ve added this additional information, be sure to upload your first video!
Google Plus
Over the years, the importance of having a Google Plus account has been questioned more and more.
In fact, you’ve probably wondered if having one is still worth your effort. The answer is yes. You don’t have to use it as a social tool, but the account is key for controlling your presence on Google.
You want to make sure the information people find when they search for you is current and reliable.
Profile
Just like its video counterpart, the profile picture for Google Plus is 1,000-pixels-wide-by-1,000-pixels-tall. On Google Plus, it displays as 250-pixels-wide-by-250-pixels-tall.
As mentioned previously, this will be used as your YouTube avatar unless you create a channel and replace the image on YouTube.
Cover
The ideal cover size is 1,600-pixels-wide-by-900-pixels-tall. My advice is to keep it consistent with your other social media accounts — provided you’ve followed smart photo guidelines, that is.
Story
On Google Plus you’ll be able to add your tagline, as well as an introduction as part of your “story.” Incorporate keywords into this section, and if you don’t have a tagline to add, stick to a simple headline.
More information
You’ll also be able to add photos, your education, work history and links that are relevant to you.
For instance, your website link should definitely be included.
That said, adding information beyond these essential sections may not be worth your time. Consider this profile a vacation home you only visit once or twice a year.
You want to make sure everything is in working order, of course, but you don’t necessarily need to complete renovations regularly. Even large companies don’t post to Google Plus frequently, so doing so is in no way necessary.
Laura Ure is the CEO of Keenability, a marketing agency specializing in lifestyle marketing that targets the affluent buyer. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
