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.

4 News Organizations Using Twitter Right

The typical news audience has changed significantly since the days of Walter Cronkite. Today, more and more people are turning to social media to get their news, as opposed to huddling around the TV set at dinner time to catch up on world events.

The global reach and immediacy of Twitter has meant that news agencies are expected to post breaking news as it happens, and most news agencies around the globe are doing a pretty good job with that. However, there are some news agencies that realize the power of social media lies in its interactivity and engagement. Here are four examples of news organizations that go beyond simply broadcasting the news; these are news organizations using Twitter right! [ Read More... ]

Google+ Introduces Community Guide for Politicians and Candidates

Only days after Barack Obama joined Google+, Google has introduced a community guide for politicians and candidates, which offers step-by-step instructions for designing a Google+ Page and connecting with voters.

The search giant recently launched a series of community guides – divided by category – which aim to encourage community growth and help organizations succeed on its social network. The guides include case studies and ideas of how organizations have used Google+ effectively. [ Read More... ]

How to Use the Twitter Activity Stream

This week we’ll show you how to use the new Twitter Activity stream.

In August, Twitter began its rollout of the new Activity stream, replacing the @Mentions and Retweets tabs on the Twitter homepage. This article will show you how to use this new Twitter activity stream to your advantage. [ Read More... ]

5 Nonprofits Using Facebook Right

Facebook is a perfect place for nonprofit organizations to connect with people around the world, build relationships, and establish an active online community.

Thanks to the varied apps and features that can be used to enhance the content and experience on Facebook Pages, it’s easy to share stories, gather supporters, accept donations, in order to help people, animals, and causes all over the world. Follow the example of these five nonprofits to see how much more you can do with your organization’s Facebook Page than simply asking people to “Like” it. [ Read More... ]

Websites Favor Twitter Over Facebook on Contact Pages

A study conducted by Outreachr found that 54 percent of websites chose to include Twitter over Facebook on their contact pages.

Outreachr – a London-based social outreach tool – evaluated the social integration of more than 100,000 websites during October.

The company found that over half of websites in the travel, finance, and motor industries favored Twitter. While social plugins for each network were common in other areas of the website, only 35 percent of websites reviewed included an external link to their Facebook Page. [ Read More... ]

5 Ways You Can Get More Out of Social Media in 2012

Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the social media waters, or you’ve already jumped into the deep end, there’s always ways to improve your social media marketing and to reach your target audience more effectively.

The social media phenomenon continues to grow as more and more businesses realize how many of their customers are already taking part in it.

As 2011 comes to a close, and the new year is just over the horizon, here are five ways you can get more out of social media in 2012 and beyond. [ Read More... ]

5 National Brands Using Facebook Right

National brands use Facebook to promote their businesses, increase sales, engage with consumers, reward loyal brand advocates, and so much more.

With a bit of customization, you can turn a Facebook Page into a fully-branded, entertaining, and meaningful online experience for visitors. Let’s take a look at five national brands using Facebook right to get some creative inspiration and strategic ideas for your own branded Facebook Page. [ Read More... ]

How to Comment on Your Facebook Page Using Your Real Name

This week we’ll show you how to use your real name (that is, your personal Facebook profile) to leave comments on content on your Facebook Page, instead of using the Page’s name.

By default, any comment you leave on a Facebook Page you own or have administrative access to will appear under the name of the Page, even if you’re logged in as your personal profile. So for example, Jane Austen might be logged in as “Jane Austen” but when she comments on the “Pride & Prejudice” page she created, the comment author’s name would appear as “Pride & Prejudice,” not “Jane Austen.”

This can be less than ideal if you want your Page to have a more personal, conversational vibe. Fortunately, it’s easy to change! [ Read More... ]

[Image Credits: Byrion Smith, DonkeyHotey, Pink Ribbon Facebook App, Coletivo Mambembe, john.herrit, Adam Fagen]