Dear Socially Stephanie,
I like to think of myself who is willing to try new tools and stay on top of the social media game. Are there any new sites that are worth trying out and can you give me a few examples of how a small business like mine might be able to use them?
Eager in Edmonton
Dear Eager,
A person cut from the same cloth as me. I like it! I'm always on the hunt for new social media sites to get in on the ground floor. Even if they never take off like Twitter or Pinterest, it's important to try them out because those who get in first will always grow their following faster than those who wait until it becomes popular. As a business, the ability to grow your following from the get-go is going to save you a lot of headache in the future. Have you noticed how hard it is to build your following on Facebook these days? Case in point.
The first tool that I'm experimenting with is a new app called Tiiny. It's a little bit Snapchat and a little bit Vine all rolled into one. Basically, you share short videos or snapshots that delete after 24 hours. While it's still brand new and there are some features that I'd like to see in the future like commenting and descriptions, it has a lot of potential. As a business you could promote a 24 hour flash sale or even as an in-store scavenger hunt.
Next up is a web and mobile app called Blopboard. It's a social polling platform where answers are visualized in real-time. It's fun to use and very visual. But beyond the design, from a marketing standpoint, it has massive potential as a tool you can use to get customer and unsolicited feedback on product design or messaging strategy.
Are you a foodie? Because I have a perfect little app for you. It's a new favorite of mine. Meet Piqniq. It's has a little touch of Instagram, but it's 100% dedicated to what you are eating. I happen to have a love of food, so for me this is a no-brainer. The company started in Budapest and thus has a bit of a European following, but I love me a good international meal, so I'm all in. From a food business standpoint, you can share your specials or encourage your customers to share what they are eating for a discount. It's a lot of fun.
So you may be thinking where do you find these sites and apps? Let me fill you in on a little secret. I'm always on ProductHunt and ErliBird checking out the newest sites that are making waves on the Internet. ProductHunt is a site that people use to share their newest findings. And ErliBird is somewhat similar but instead of user-submitted, it's company submitted, which allows the startup to control their own profile. I've been introduced to many-an-awesome site this way and they are two sites that you should definitely keep on your radar.
So let me ask you something. Do you notice a common thread? Yes, they are all image based and that's where social media is going. Better start creating that visual strategy and fast! There you have it my friend. The hottest startups as told by yours truly. Now, go build your following!
Socially,
Stephanie
Do you have a question for Socially Stephanie?
Please email [email protected] and let Stephanie help you solve your social quandaries, queries, and boondoggles. (Questions may be edited for length and clarity.)
Illustration by Jesse Wells