That is one of the most asked questions I hear from people starting their social journey.  There are dozens of social platforms to engage and connect with other people, but how do you use them?  Below is the way “I” see these platforms being used. 

photo: greyweed

Blogs

Blogs in my opinion are generally used to inform.  Take it from the tech space, blogs are used to inform on the latest product enhancements, events, etc.  There isn’t a ton of engagement with readers, because it is usually on a very specific topic.

Twitter

I see twitter is being the most used for engagement.  With only 140 characters it is usually right to the point and there is a lot of back and forth between users. I would make sure you are taking advantage of putting users in lists so tweets don’t get buried in the steam.

Facebook

Facebook I think is used more for involvement. Most of the status updates are asking questions and wanting responses from friends.  From a business standpoint, Facebook is used to run contests or pictures that get the fans involved in the brand. The key to using Facebook as a brand…is to make sure your content is sharable.

Forums

The word I would use for forums is responsive.  When I think of forums, I think of posting a question on something I am having a problem with hoping the community will respond.  This is a great way for users to share their expertise on a subject and a great way for businesses to respond to customers.

With that being said, yes you can use each platform for everything listed.  That is just how I perceive these platforms.  What about you, what do you think when your hear these platforms mentioned?