Many young entrepreneurs struggle to create their online presence. As the fierce world of competition extends to the internet, building an audience and sustaining virtual communities can be a great challenge. Yet, these business amateurs have no option but to try. We have passed the time when social media is only one of the go-to options for marketing, a good addition to the tool box. Now, social media is a must-go-to, a necessity for success.

It’s not even just start-ups who struggle to maintain their online presence. Many already established companies spend millions of dollars for online marketing campaigns, even engaging with their clients through these platforms. Online advertising is already one of the biggest expenditure of both start-up and established companies, and in which ample amount of budget is allocated.

In an international seminar event attended by Axis Capital Group Business Funding, one of the sources of credit loans for small business owners across America, Sophia Clark, Marketing Operations Manager, has given some pointers for aspiring new entrepreneurs who attended the event in Kota, Jakarta, Indonesia. Based on the panel discussion with her, here are some of her emphasis on Social Media and how it can be overcome:

1. Know which Strategy to Use

Going into the business with innate knowledge of how the product is being produced is not enough to compete. It takes a lot of time, effort and more studying. It is the same for using social media. The worst that can happen for a company is to take whatever platform is available and cram it with whatever contents. You have to pattern your social media usage to the business you are doing, the people who mostly use the social media network and the image you are targeting. Diversity of usage is what is important. You can connect to more professionals through LinkedIn, give out in depth information through Twitter and show the company’s culture through Facebook.

1. Use SM for feedback

Social Media is one of the greatest tools to know what the audience wants the most, their dislikes, and their preferences. You can see negative and positive reviews and suggestions, their complaints and their opinions with brands. There are ample amount of things to be learned from them from which you can outline the best possible technique to use.

1. Content is King

Always and always, people, no matter if they are minimalist or not, will look into the content. This is the most basic rule in building an online presence. People would know who you are on the way you market yourself. They can read between the lines and know if it seems like a scam. After all, content is what people are looking into these platforms.