Gaining exposure for your social media profiles

One of the most obvious methods of increasing the visibility of a social media presence is to feature the URL of a Twitter, Facebook or YouTube site on additional marketing materials: posters, billboards, advertisements.

And more and more brands are utilising these real-world promotions to direct people towards their social media sites.

Primarily, there’s an obvious reason for this; it is a lot easier to rack up the numbers of Facebook and Twitter with a URL in an advertising campaign than through organically growing fans and followers via social media alone.

Of course, not all of us can afford a nationwide campaign to begin with. But, for an agency which specialises in social media, the benefits of highlighting a Twitter or LinkedIn presence are obvious. You demonstrate an authority for the medium as well as being able to showcase your expertise for the format.

And getting your social media profile out into the wider community is not a hard task. Here’s five ways to broadcast your Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook address to the public domain:

Official correspondence: Feature the URLs to your major social media hubs on business cards, email signatures and letterheads. In all likelihood, these materials will be sent to prospective clients; if you’re pitching for a social media contract would it not be in your best interest to demonstrate how you’re using the service?

Links on press releases and guest blogs: Include the link to social sites on press releases and guest blogs; material which might appeal to an audience outside your traditional sphere of coverage.

Presentations: Featuring links on presentations or lectures is an excellent way to increase your exposure to the relevant audiences. Many conferences now encourage users to tweet during the event with a hashtag and it may prove beneficial to mention your Twitter username during a presentation to make it easier for the audience to include your handle in a message.

Prominence on a website: Feature icons linking to your social media on an official website. Don’t hide portals to Twitter or Facebook at the base of your page. Put them front and centre where more people are likely to notice them.

Networking events: Many networking events require you to wear a nametag; occasionally, they also ask for a Twitter username. Considering using your company’s handle, rather than a personal moniker, if you wish to gain additional coverage for a social media profile.