Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/348155
B M & T ••• May/June 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 24 If you want to be visible in today's marketplace, you absolutely must have a presence on social media. But there are so many from which to choose nowadays! In addition to the biggies like Facebook and Twitter, we have lots of newcomers, including Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr. Additionally, some of the older platforms have undergone major changes in recent months, which affect how effective they are for different functions. How to know which platforms will best meet your n eeds? I asked Alex Hinojosa, our vice president for media operations at EMSI Public Relations, to share some tips for helping you decide. First, he says, if you plan to handle your social media marketing yourself, try different platforms and use ones with features you enjoy. That will help ensure you stick with it, and may lead you to create inspired content that's more likely to be shared. Be on at least two platforms, he says. (If one's mostly personal stuff for family and friends, it doesn't count!) Here's Alex's rundown on the advantages and disadvan- tages of the four most popular platforms: FACEBOOK: This works best if you're an individual interacting on a personal level, as opposed to a business. Artists, authors, public speakers and certain other professionals may benefit from having potential customers get to know them on a more person- al basis. A downside to Facebook is that, in an effort to make money for shareholders, it has begun requiring users to pay for the poten- tially unlimited visibility that used to be free. T WITTER: Posts are limited to 140 characters – about the length of a headline – and can include a photo or WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE RIGHT FOR YOU? BY: MARSHA FRIEDMAN WEST: June 16-17, 2014 Hilton Bayfront, San Diego, CA NATIONAL: Sept 3-4, 2014 Omni Shoreham, Washington, DC Complimentary Registration is now open! MOVING YOUR MEETINGS AND EVENTS FORWARD! Gain insights on essential trending topics, earn CMP CEU's, network with hundreds of your peers and experience a premier supplier showcase featuring one-to-one, priority-ranked appointments. REGISTER TODAY at