Benefits and Disadvantages of Using Multiple Social Media Platforms

Today, many libraries, businesses and other organisations use more than one social medial platform to communicate with their clients and promote their services. According to the Social media update 2013 published by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, "42% of online adults use multiple social networking sites". By diversifying onto other platforms, organisations can reach a wider audience and broaden their profile usually for free. Of course, different platforms have unique benefits. Facebook, for example, is a great way for organisations to promote their "brand" through sharing information about activities, contests, updates video and pictures. On the other hand, Twitter allows organisations to engage in conversations about them as they're happening. Twitter is also a great platform to announce new products or services. Therefore, organisations are able to communicate in different ways with their clients by using different social media platforms.

Using multiple social media platforms, however, may become very time consuming. Content must be created, edited, approved and published; comments must be responded to and sites and pages must be maintained. In order to get the full benefit of each platform, it is necessary for organisations to know when and how to use them. Incorrect use may have a detrimental impact on an organisation's reputation.