The Eclipse of Our Social Media Saga

Third time's the charm! As we continue our social media journey, let's look at some more ways to promote your company on different social media sites. Today, we're going to explore the realms of Reddit, Pinterest, and Tumblr.

Reddit with Pointon

Before this post, I had no idea what Reddit was, so I'll give you a brief explanation for those of you out there in the same boat as me. Reddit is a social media site that is, basically, a pool of information and commentaries. People go on there and share different kinds of information and opinions. It's not as big of a social media site as, say, Facebook, but it still has an audience that you can reach as a company.

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James Pointon shared his advice on using Reddit for your business in his article on Smart Insights' website. In this, he gives you ten different pieces of advice, and we're going to highlight a few of them.

The first thing that I want to share with you is to "avoid getting banned" from the site (Pointon). Apparently, it can happen pretty easily on Reddit, so here are couple of things that you can do, according to Pointon, to keep that from happening:

"Don't submit the same comment many times to different subreddits [a.k.a: interest groups]."

"Don't submit links only to your website."

"Never ask for upvotes [an upvote further promotes your post and is decided on by users]."

"Avoid sharing anyone's private information."

"Don't even think about creating bots that request information from the site."

"Steer clear of illegal content."

Suffice it to say, with Reddit, tread carefully. It can be a handy tool, but make sure you don't get knocked out before you get started.

The second thing is to "avoid being too self-promotional" (Pointon). This crowd tends to be picky and is able to sense when an outsider is in their midst. You would basically be the Bella Swan among the Volturi: they would be able to tell instantly that there is something different about you by your online "smell." Again, be cautious.

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The third and final thing that I want to share is a solution to the top two problems: "create a genuine profile" (Pointon). If you don't want the Volturi to know that you're a Bella, then make it look like you're a vampire too. Your page should basically "feel like a real person" (Pointon).

If you're still confused about how to use Reddit, read the full article by James Pointon. Be aware that there is some language, but it still has some good advice on how to navigate through the crazy world of Reddit. As always, you should be honest as a company. However, if you're determined to use Reddit, still be honest, but be careful as to how you present yourself on there.

Pinterest with Rampton

Speaking as a girl, Pinterest is the place to go to look for cute items and ideas. Granted, I don't use it all that much myself, but I have seen a few friends looking at their secret wedding boards on Pinterest for when they get married someday (although they don't want anyone to really know about it). Even if they don't have a boyfriend, they have a compilation of the kind of stuff they want for        Photo Source

when it does happen. Sounds kind of crazy, 

right? However, a lot of people have boards just like this. Pinterest is a site where creative people post their ideas and knowledge for others to use, and a lot of people do.

John Rampton has an article on Entrepreneur that talks about how you can use this for your own business. This is a great market to reach with creative ideas and news.

One tip that I want to share with you is to "know your brand" (Rampton). How can you get people to follow you if you don't know what your selling? Love your product, show it, and others will soon follow.

Another tip that Rampton gives is to "stay relevant with the times". This, especially, is important for Pinterest. People log on to find the latest trends, and the best ideas on how to follow those trends. Be like a 90s teenager and know what the latest bling-bling is out there! Got it down, homeslice? Wassup? Peace out.

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The final tip that I want to share is to "create boards about a specific topic" (Rampton). When people get on Pinterest, a lot of them are looking for something specific. Set up pages that cover different interests, but still relate to your company. Make them associate their interests with your company!

The great thing about this article is that Rampton gives examples of companies who pull off each of these tips on Pinterest really well. I recommend reading the whole thing to get inspired. For more 90s terms, yo, here is where I got mine (warning: there is some language). Hey, I only lived in the 90s for four years, okay? Don't go all wack on me, dude.

Tumblr with Helmrich

I'll just go ahead and throw this out there: Tumblr is a very different kind of world with a very different kind of crowd. It takes a special kind of person to use Tumblr to its full extent, but it can be useful when it comes to marketing purposes. For tips on how to use and navigate the strange world of  Tumblr, keep reading for some things to know about Tumblr from an article on Business              Photo Source

News Daily by Brittany Helmrich.

One thing to know is the kind of people that you are interacting with on Tumblr. According to Helmrich, "most Tumblr users are young", so be aware that this generation is your audience, and plan accordingly.

Another good thing to know about Tumblr is that there are "fandoms everywhere" (Helmrich). This, I know for certain. From TV show fans to music fans to fans that you didn't even know existed, Tumblr has it all. If you can somehow incorporate some of these specific interests into your company's posts, you'll be able to engage more followers. For example, you could make a Doctor Who reference by saying something like, "Don't blink! This sale will be gone before you know it" (also make sure to include a picture of a Weeping Angel when you do it, or the joke will be moot)! You'll then have the Whovian clan in the palm of your hand.

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The final thing that I want to share is the knowledge that "Tumblr fame is important" (Helmrich). There are a LOT of people on Tumblr that companies tend to forget about a lot. Be the company to get your name out there and make Tumblr your home. Once you're "in" with Tumblr, you're "in" for the long haul.

Considering that Tumblr is pretty much a foreign language to new users, this article is really good on showing you the basics and how to make your posts noticed. Good luck with your social media experience!

The final chapter of the social media saga will commence on January 13th, 2017. Be prepared...

Pictures found through Google Images. I do not own these pictures, nor the Twilight, Doctor Who, Napoleon Dynamite, Reddit, Pinterest, and Tumblr trademarks and quotes. This is being used for educational purposes.