From the Branded Program: Social Media Best Practices

This edition of the Branded Program blog series outlines examples of how businesses can use social media to promote their products.



Using social media for your business can generate leads, drive website traffic, and build brand awareness. That’s why the Branded Program can reimburse companies for costs incurred by using social media as a promotional tool. In this month’s blog we outline strategies for 3 different platforms that are eligible for reimbursement through the Branded program.

Instagram

Instagram is a photo and video sharing platform –“a simple, fun, and creative way to capture, edit, and share photos, videos, and messages with friends and family.” While initially it was intended for personal use, the popularity of Instagram also attracted businesses, turning it into a venue to introduce and promote products to a large audience.

This launched the era of the “influencer,” an individual who has a substantial social media following and uses that influence to promote products and services. Brands connect with influencers and offer free products or financial compensation for posting or name-dropping a product in their photos or videos. The investment used to build these relationships and promote a product through an influencer is one of the many expenses that qualify for reimbursement!

Here is an example of how one of our companies, Instinct: The Raw Brand, used the Branded Program to work with a brand ambassador/influencer:

Facebook

Facebook is another social media platform that transcended from its personal networking origins to marketing and advertising. Due to its large base of registered users, Facebook is another venue for brands to showcase their products through photos and videos.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn emerged as a site for professional networking and career development, but now it also allows professionals to create exposure for their brands in a business-to-business environment. On LinkedIn, you can post ads, ad carousels, and videos. Videos are in high demand as they allow businesses, not only to showcase their products, but also to deliver educational content to their followers.

Social media has become an essential resource for online advertising and digital marketing. Use these tips (and the Branded Program!) to maximize your use of these social media platforms.