Top 4 Tips for Successful Social Media Integration on your Website

Social Media. By now, you are probably sick of hearing those words. The fact remains that social media can make or break your business.

One of the most important things to do when launching your website, or even if you have an existing website, is to make sure you are integrating social media appropriately. Here are a few tips to help you integrate successfully!

1. Make Sure Social Media Buttons are Visible

This might seem like common sense, but the truth is that many businesses miss the mark when placing their social media buttons. Media buttons should be displayed on the top, bottom or along the side of your home page.

Links or buttons that remain in your navigation as the user moves from page to page are important. Always offer them the opportunity to check out your social media! Be sure they are set to open in a new window so the user doesn’t exit your website.

This website clearly displays their Facebook, Twitter, and RSS Feed for viewers.

2. Don’t Overdo It

Don’t get engaged in social media that you aren’t interested in. You will be more successful if you focus on a few outlets and make them spectacular rather than having twenty outlets and nineteen of them are ignored. By this, I mean if you prefer Facebook over Twitter then just stick with the Facebook.

Overwhelming your viewers with icons for too many social media outlets will turn them off.. instead just focus on the main players such as Facebook and Twitter to start. Before you add buttons to your site, ask yourself, “Is there information here that people would be interested in?”

This website only uses Facebook and keeps that as their main focus

3. Integrate your Social Media Feed

One of the easiest ways to get your fans engaged is to have your social media feed directly displayed on your site. If you use Facebook often then add the code right into your sidebar! Show your fans that you are engaged.

Twitter also helps you display your tweets fairly easy by providing their own slew of widgets you can add to your site. You can add them to your website, blog and even add integration to your Facebook page. Click here to view all the goodies.

This website integrates their Facebook feed right onto their sidebar.

4. Include Share Buttons

If you sell a product or run a full-fledged eCommerce site and you haven’t added share buttons to your product pages, you are missing out on a whole host of potential social impressions. Share buttons should enable website-goers to seamlessly share or recommend a product. Let your fans do the advertising for you!

If you have a WordPress based site or blog, make sure you visit your plugins section and do a search for social media buttons. There are many to choose from and we’re sure you’ll find something to your liking. Take a look at how this website adds share buttons to the side of their posts.

Follow these steps and watch how your website and social media will work seamlessly!

How To Create Your New Google+ Page

Google FINALLY launched the ability for all businesses to create their own Google+ page and Mashable has a very detailed slideshow on how to set one up for yourself.

While you’re over there reading up on the process, be sure to add us to your circle by visiting us on there and clicking on +1: FXV Digital Design on Google+

Click Here to view the setup process.

Google+ Launches Pages for Businesses

Google has finally unveiled brand page for Google+, allowing businesses and brands to join Google’s social network.

“So far Google+ has focused on connecting people with other people,” Google SVP of Social Vic Gundotra said in a blog post. “But we want to make sure you can build relationships with all the things you care about—from local businesses to global brands—so today we’re rolling out Google+ Pages worldwide.”

The new Google+ brand pages look similar to Google+ Profiles, except for the little square icon that designates that it’s a Page rather than a Profile. Users can add brands such as Fox News, the Dallas Cowboys and Angry Birds to their circles, check out their information and browse their photos. When users add a brand to their circles, it increases that brand’s follower count.

Google’s launch partners include Angry Birds, CNN, Fox News, the Muppets, the Dallas Cowboys, Pepsi, Toyota, Macy’s, X Games, WWE, Train, Barcelona Football Club and Save the Children.

When the search giant first launched Google+, brands immediately jumped on the opportunity to gain additional exposure. Google soon asked brands to stop creating Google+ profiles. It quickly became a controversy that forced the company to accelerate its plans for business pages.

-Mashable.com