This week on Sprout Social Insights we tackled guides for Facebook, Twitter, and small business to help you better reach your customers with the social tools that make a difference.

Check out our articles below to find out more about each one and how they can help you with your social media goals.

And check in every day to Sprout Social Insights for more how to guides and breaking social media news.

How to Ask for Help on Twitter

If you are like most people, when you first start on Twitter, you’re a little tentative. You might not know how to use a Twitter List, or even how to retweet. Don’t worry — that’s normal. The good news is that you don’t have to keep your uncertainty or your frustration to yourself. Twitter is largely populated with people who are willing to help, if and when you need it. The secret? You just have to know how to ask.  [Read more...]

How to Change the Facebook Page Top Photo Strip

Last week, we showed you how to change the picture associated with your Facebook Page. This week we’re going to tackle customizing the strip of 5 photos that runs across the top of your page.

First, upload pictures into an album. On the left sidebar of your company’s Facebook Page, under the profile picture, there are a list of links for your page. Click on Photos. On the photo page, click on the Upload Photos button in the upper right hand corner right above the admin bar. [Read more...]

How to Use Advanced Metrics in Google Analytics

Have you ever wanted to view specific metrics in Google Analytics and see how those metrics affected your overall analytics data?

For example, would you like to see your traffic sources and conversions data just for visitors from North America instead of visitors worldwide? If your answer is yes, then we’ll show you how use Google Analytics’ advanced metrics (or “segments”) to get detailed data about your website. [Read more...]

6 Twitter Hashtags Every Restaurant Should Use

Everyday, more and more people turn to social networks like Twitter to make decisions such as where to go for lunch or dinner. Twitter enthusiasts follow their favorite restaurants, and many tweeters scan hashtags on the social network to find the exact information they’re looking for.

As a restaurateur, you can make your tweets more effective by tagging them with appropriate hashtags. Your tweets will find a broader audience and have a greater chance of drawing more people into your local business.

Business recommendations fuel a lot of the social web, so get in on the conversation! Expose your restaurant to as many people as possible by trying out some of these hashtags in your next tweets. [Read more...]

5 Great Ideas for Facebook Social Media Promotions

Facebook and social media are key items in a marketer’s tool belt in this digital age. Brands and businesses are coming up with creative and unique ways to leverage the Facebook platform, so we’re talking about a few of the best ones here for you to try out.

Fans are rewarded for Liking and engaging with brands, and there are countless coupons, sweepstakes, and contests happening every day on the social network.

Though there is a lot of inspiration to draw from, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you begin a promotion or campaign. Is this idea a fit for your brand? What results are you looking for? How do you want to measure those results? Is the ultimate goal more likes to your Page or brand awareness? [Read more...]

How to Use Google Analytics to Create Better Website Content

Content is one of the most important facets of your website marketing strategy. Google Analytics can help you determine which content attracts the most visitors to your website, what content drives your visitors away, and what topics your visitors are most interested in once they’re on your site.

Use these insights to fine tune your content strategy. Create more of the content that keeps visitors engaged, and eliminate content that fails to add value. The following article will demonstrate exactly how to use Google Analytics to create better website content. [Read more...]

[Image Credits: ykanazawa1999, Miren Berasategi, Ksayer1, furkan demirtas]