Social media is the new rage taking the world by storm. The year 2011 observed a steep rise in the popularity of social media. All the excitement surrounding the social media appeal reached new heights when this seemingly auxiliary activity started manifesting its potential as the center of the web world. In the years that are about to come, the growth of social media is going to be exponential in nature with the social networks acting as the nucleus of human affairs on several levels.
Given the widespread use of social networks, it will only be justified to say that the year 2012 herald the commencement of an era where social media will dominate several areas of our life. Gone are the times when web was all about high speed internet surfing, emailing or chatting. In the present day and age, the scope of social media’s realm is so influential that one is simply left overwhelmed.
Facebook and Twitter were once considered the industry’s giants. These two were the strongest contenders fighting aggressively for the number one position. Both of them wanted to claim monopoly over the realm of social media. However, while these two were busy giving each other a hard time, two new social media networks with the name Pinterest and Google+ joined the marathon. Despite being new social media sphere, both of them ignited an interest among users posing a threat to their contemporaries.
In the short time since these social networks have been introduced, they have attracted traffic others can only dream of. According to resources, Google+ has more than 100 million users across the globe. While the estimated number of Pinterest users is not known, it is no secret that Pinterest is the third most popular social network in US.
Using social networks for increased brand recognition is a trend these days that has helped business owners harvest remarkable rewards. The eye-brow raising question is, given the choice, what a business owner should go for, Pinterest or Google+? Some statistics to help you make well-informed decisions are listed below.
Majority of females in US use Pinterest as they contribute to 83% of the total traffic attracted by the website. The age group they usually belong to 18-34 and most of their ‘pins’ are about fashion, home décor and design. On the other hand, the majority of those who use Google+ are men who prefer to post about technology. Keeping these factors in mind, if one has to decide to choose Pinterest or Google+, the following account can help shed some light on aspects that are worth considering.
When To Choose Google+?
1. If Time Is A Precious Commodity
While one can share or post the same stuff on Google +, Facebook or Twitter, when it comes to Pinterest one is fairly restricted in terms of the type of nature or content you can distribute using it. If you do not have ample time on your hands and believe that all you need to kick start your business is sharing links that direct users to your blog or web page then Google+ is what you should opt for.
2. If Your Targeted Demographic Is Male
It is apparent that most of the users of Google+ are males. If you have a product or service to offer that is male-centric, Google+ is the best bet. Especially if it is something related to technology, you can fairly increase your chances at success through Goggle+.
3. If Search Optimization Is Desired
If your goal is higher search engine ranking then Google+ is your name. Google ranks site on the basis of their quality. This quality comes from relevance. The more relevant your site is, the higher the rankings. Google + can significantly increase your relevancy as content can easily be shared with the +1 button.
When To Choose Pinterest?
1. When You Have Sufficient Time To Invest
Pinterest can be a priceless platform to promote your product or services but it does take a bit of time investment. The key factor is to keep the appeal there. If you ‘pin’ boring images, you lose customers then and there. Intriguing and engaging content can get some success rolling in for you.
2. If Your Targeted Market Is Women-Centric
As the stats show, Pinterest has more female users. For brands where aesthetic appeal play a significant role, Pinterest is the platform.
3. If You Wish To Get Referrals
Referrals can be most easily inspired with Pinterest. Since pinning is exceedingly simple allowing users to post pictures of their favorite stuff within a matter of minutes, Pinterest brings to life the idea of a picture being worth a 1000 words. Referrals not only help build traffic, they can help a business gain footing in its initial stages.
With the high speed internet providers and social media platforms, this is all a start-up business can ask for to bring about the desired success.
I do agree – When you want it solely for sharing links that direct users to your blog or web page then Google+ is what you should choose. The Search Engine gives a lot of authority for their +1′s in their personalized search results and is a great way of increasing the exposure you’ll get in Google when someone uses the Personal Search Function and have someone in common with a recommendation to your site in the form of a +1.
From an internet marketing perspective I would definitely suggest starting a Pinterest account. The site does not allow business pages but just like with Google+ I would recommend creating an individual account where only your businesses products are featured.
Clearly, Google+ isn’t for the norm. Most of those that sign up for Google+ are professionals and not just common people that enjoy social media for communicating with friends.
I like the way you laid this out.
IMO It really makes sense to use all the big social networks. But you want to play to their strengths. When you do this you really get the most out of your efforts. Since there are simply so many little things you need to do these days to be successful, that is something that really makes sense to me!
Great points, thanks!
Steve
Good comparison between Facebook and Pinterest. Simple but easy to understand… Looks like I need to do both Facebook and Pinterest! Haha…
I haven’t tried to use Pintrest yet, but I use Google+. I guess that both social networks have many interesting opportunities
Print not only your photos, but also those of your friends who have allowed printing in their privacy settings. These photos are a simple way to share and save your favorite photos..
pintrest is useful if your site is full of images….otherwise more traffic is on Facebook and i think its better option.
Is pintrest useful? I am not getting referral from it. What can be the reason? Can any one suggest me?
Wow excellent article..
Clearly you have segregated the points about different social media networks.
According to your business you must choose the best social media site.each one have its advantages so you must select the right one..
thanks for sharing this great stuff with us.