{Blogging 101} 4 Top Social Media Platforms To Join

So you have decided to start a blog and have read Laura’s 7 Things Every Blog Should Have.  Next step is to decide on which top social media platforms you would like to use and create profiles for each.

Decide on what platforms you and your readers enjoy using most, and which generate traffic for your blog. I know you are a very busy mommy so don’t spread yourself too thin and sign up for every platform, only to not have time to probably engage with your readers on any of them. I would however recommend signing up and ‘reserving’ your blog name on the most common platforms. This to avoid anyone else using your name and when you have the time, you can focus on building up your followers on each platform. Check out this handy social media cheat sheet by Omnicore for profile size dimensions.

1. Facebook. This is by far my most popular platform to engage with my readers, and the easiest and most enjoyable for me. Facebook however limits the organic reach of Pages, which means that unless you pay for sponsored posts, fewer followers will see your posts in their newsfeeds. So it’s not as much about how many followers like your page, but how many of them are actually viewing your posts. More engagement by your readers, such as liking and commenting of posts, will ensure your posts show up in their newsfeeds.

2. Twitter. It took me a while to get onto Twitter, and I’m still useless at using #hashtags in my posts, but I’m learning slowly. This is a great platform to follow up-to-date feeds and engage in current conversations with a wider audience. Decide if your handle will be your personal name or your blog’s name. Managing two or more accounts is a pain, so I recommend choosing one handle that you feel most comfortable using for both personal and blogging related tweets.

3. Pinterest. If you like to blog about food, DIY and crafts, I recommend you sign up for Pinterest either in your own name or as a business. Not only will you find inspiration and enjoy browing through all the pretty boards, it’s also a great way to share your posts. Make your images pinnable by following the general size guideline of 735 x 1102 and include a description and your blog name when uploading images to your blog.

4. Instagram. You don’t need to post stylised photos to enjoy this platform. I enjoy seeing the family photos shared by other bloggers, even the blurry ones with no strategically placed vase of flowers or mug of steaming coffee in the background. Don’t be intimidated by this platform, it’s all about sharing and it allows you to have fun editing your photos with filters and effects.

Remember, everything you share on social media will have an impact (good or bad) on your reputation and brand. Be confident in what you share, and always comment from a good place, and never in anger or hatred. Don’t underestimate the power of your words and how they can help or hurt others.

Sarah Huddy blogs at The Mommy City. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
“I’m a mommy blogger who lives in Cape Town with her two toddlers and hubby. I like to blog about living in the mother city, parenting, reviews and sewing. I’ve learnt a few things about blogging over the last 3 years and happy to share what I know to all you fantastic moms.”