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Social media has become a critical communications hub for businesses, providing an easy way to distribute information and content to customers worldwide. It also provides excellent opportunities for networking, business development and brand promotion.

To leverage social media successfully, you need a tailored strategy that considers your industry, target audience and overall goals. Here are a few social media best practices that will help any business or organization find success online:

1. Engage your audience

When sharing content and news with your followers, make sure you ask questions and respond to comments and inquiries. Engaging in conversations on social media will humanize your brand and enable your organization to develop a stronger connection with your audience and stakeholders.

2. Use visuals

Scrolling through blocks of text on social media gets very boring, very quickly. Make sure your posts stand out and appeal to your audience by using a mix of images, videos and infographics.

3. Follow the news

Stay on top of the latest news and events in your industry and look for ways to incorporate them into your posts. Remaining topical and relevant will help you connect with your followers and make your page more appealing to a broader audience.

4. Share across multiple platforms

Utilize a platform like Hootsuite to share updates easily across various social media platforms. Keeping all of your pages active will allow you to maximize your reach and get the most out of your content.

Want to learn more? Check out this article with tips on how to respond to a social media crisis: https://medium.com/@crisisPR/responding-to-a-social-media-crisis-what-you-need-to-know-da7243da8551