Facebook or Twitter?

[Evan]

I just came across a survey of 3300 marketers which asked them where they are spending their time to promote their businesses on social media. Last year the top reply was Twitter. This year it was Facebook.

I often come across entrepreneurs who want to get started in social media but the whole idea of it is too daunting and scary. I usually tell them to start small and bite off little pieces at a time instead of seeing it as a huge project.

My question for the forum members is: where would you tell these entrepreneurs to start? Facebook or Twitter?

[Trent Brownrigg]

Facebook! I use both but definitely FB a lot more and there are a lot more options with it.

[GT Bulmer]

Great question!

A year ago, I would have said Twitter, but since that time, Facebook has introduced some better opportunities for marketers to develop their brand there. Some Twitter marketers are finding or developing systems or processes for effective Twitter marketing, but I think it will take much longer for marketing success on Twitter than on Facebook.

Entrepreneurs should use both as part of their long term social strategy, but I think Facebook offers more immediate potential. (Says the guy who does not yet have a presence on Facebook! lol)

GT

[Mal Tindle]

Hi Evan,

Good question, I would tell entrepreneurs to start with Twitter, not because I think it is better but because it is more immediate and user friendly.

Facebook has a lot more options and is better developed but can be very confusing to someone who is trying to build a business.

More experienced entrepreneurs may prefer Facebook over Twitter because of the applications available but I must say that Twitter are not standing still in this area so things could be completely different this time next year.

regards,

Mal.

[Evan]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I personally started with Twitter and am now moving over to Facebook. I polled people on both my accounts and (not surprisingly) the Twitter people said Twitter and the Facebook people said Facebook!

The actual order of my social media presence looks like this:

1) LinkedIn (with little success)
2) Twitter
3) YouTube
4) Facebook

[lindamartin88]

I think Twitter is at the top because unlike all other social media networks, it has a clean and direct interface. This, to me, is the most important marketing strategy that can be used.

[jason079]

Both social networks are useful. Better results are attainable if you'd work on them together

[GT Bulmer]

I agree that they are both useful and can be used in tandem quite effectively. I also believe that an Internet Marketer should use a variety of techniques and not rely on any one specific method. Online social media is an evolving process and as the popular sites go through their changes and "upgrades", their popularity and following wan in and out.

GT

[alenmajer]

Twitter works the best for me, maybe it is so because I share knowledge from 20+ other sales trainers, so people find it valuable.

Facebook - not so much. I got some traction, however LinkedIn works much better for b2b crowd.

[GT Bulmer]

Hey, Alen:

Thanks for the feedback on this. I am active on Twitter, but not on Facebook, and your experience with the two is good to know.

GT

[localnumberone]

I would suggest people to start with Facebook because it has maximum global users after Google. It has the potential to drag a huge traffic for your business and it depends on you what you do with that traffic. If it is used effectively, Facebook can drive maximum traffic for your business in comparison to any other marketing technique.

[ideasuniversity]

Facebook carries the day. You fan page is permanent and if you are good at giving e-gifts on you page, you will get more people to like your page.

[stephen_edegree]

Facebook no doubt has overtook Twitter as top social media and market place but I still get best and bunch traffic from Twitter rather than Facebook. For getting traffic on Facebook large network is a must while the use of hash tags in twitter makes te promotion much easily reachable to even those who are not in your network. Several times I have got replies from users not being followed/following. Main reason of Facebook being on top is connecting and integrating the network in better and spacious way by ads and other social moves.

[diyakapoor]

I am using both. So, I would suggest for both. As you can interact with people on both the sites

[jessica_david]

Well I would suggest to use all the social media sites but if one out of these two are to be selected then i'd go with twitter.