As a member of the interactive marketing industry, one of the first things I look for when visiting a new website is an active presence on social media platforms. There have been plenty of times when I’ve encountered websites having no social media buttons or the ability to follow or share their channels at all.
What’s even more common are the times I’ve visited a site to find their social media icons are poorly placed. Oftentimes they’re hidden at the very bottom of their pages, making them difficult to find.
Any person who has tried their hand at branding via social media knows how hard it can be to develop a thriving presence in the social media sector. So, why would anyone want to reduce the visibility of these buttons and links by putting them where no one could find them?
Research has shown that it is crucial to keep these buttons and links visible on a website. In a 2018 study, researchers learned that social sharing buttons could promote significant growth in new users and shares. In this study, researchers found that properly placed icons increased total shares by as much as 400%. Additionally, one company saw a 2.5% increase in new users.
Would you like to know how you can avoid burying your social media buttons on your website? Below are some tips that can help in displaying social buttons for maximum visibility.
How To Start Showing Social Media Icons
Social media icons can lead visitors to the social networks of your brand, which is why it is so important that they are accessible on your website.
One great place to insert these icons is the top half of the home page, also known as “above the fold.” This is the section of a page where a visitor can see things without the need to scroll down. The lower a visitor has to scroll, the less likely it is that the visitor will see these buttons at all.
Displaying Social Media Sharing Buttons
Compared to social media icons that direct visitors to a brand’s social profiles, social media sharing buttons are intended to let people promote content on a website using their personal profiles.
Websites that offer valuable data and content can use these social sharing buttons to make it easy for people to share content they find interesting.
Experts recommend the following steps for share button placement:
Place the buttons where users can easily see them, and place them as close to the top of the page as possible.
Place the share buttons in a section close to the content so it can be shared.
Place the share buttons within the sidebar, footer, or in the page-navigation tools.
Place the share buttons in several areas on a page.
No one wants their visitors to leave a website without performing any meaningful interactions. Displaying your social media buttons is essential towards obtaining desired engagement and action for your website and brand.
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