A whopping 87% of businesses are using social media integration on their websites these days. It is perfectly clear that social media has the ability to transform your brand and help you connect with your audience more than any other form of marketing.

Using social media integration the right way can transform your business into a social business. Providing social proof and raising brand awareness on your website is a top priority for many businesses, and thanks to those digital media icons, you can achieve that much easier now.

But the problem is, how do you integrate social media properly? As you start to create the design for your website from the beginning, you want to do it right or else it could waste your time, money, and reputation.

Read on to learn the top researched strategies for implementing social media on your website. Thank us later.

What is Social Media Integration?

Ever go to a website and see those handy icons with the social media logos? You know those handy “share now” buttons, or perhaps the “follow us on Facebook”? That is the works of a smart social media website template.

Essentially, it is cross-promoting your channels, giving you more exposure, shares and brand awareness. Since everyone has their own preferred social media platform to spend time on, leveraging your social media channels gives you more of a chance to be seen by all.

Why You Need to Integrate Social Media

Someone may want to send you a message on LinkedIn, check out your Facebook page, or perhaps follow you on Instagram or Twitter. You could lose valuable leads and sales if you are not using the type of social media that this person prefers. You could also possibly lose your online authority and your reputation could be viewed poorly.

This also gives you a chance to know and understand your audience, where they spend time online, what they like etc. One more essential key is to study your competitors as well, knowing where they are succeeding and where they are lacking is a recipe for getting your website to stand out from the crowd!

How to Integrate and Make a Social Media Website

There are numerous tactics to involve your social media in your new website design. We are going to discuss the most popular and socially proven ways to cross-promote your channels.

1. Share and Follow Buttons

This one seems so obvious- but somehow, it is overlooked on so many websites. By adding these icons, you are increasing chances for your audience to share your content and increasing social proof.

This is where knowing which platforms to use comes in handy as you do not want to clutter your page design with buttons. Best locations for these buttons are at the top, bottom, or sides of the page. Make it as easy and simple as you can, then sit back and watch the shares happen!

Remember this includes both the share and follow buttons. Make the difference between the two clear, and create incentives to click on them. You can say something like “follow us for daily posts on” (whatever your niche is).

2. Join the Social Video Craze

With over 500 million people watching videos on Facebook every day, it would be crazy not to join in on that action. In just a few short years from now, videos will be 80% of traffic, so get on it now to get ahead!

Think of anything from a commercial to a real live stream. Learning how to optimize your videos for each specific social media platform is also essential for it to be seen. Depending on the platform, you will want to approach each video differently.

If it is a live video, think of it like a conversation between you and your viewers. Make it real, vulnerable and engage as much as you can. If it is a pre-recorded video, make sure it is relatable and drawing in emotion from your viewers.

3. Social Media Logins

Using an email and personal information is not a preferred method of logins anymore. Did you know that 73% of people prefer to log in to a website by using their social media accounts?

Our busy monkey minds are too crowded nowadays, and the last thing that people want to do is fill out a long, tedious form with their personal information. Shorten the registration process and increase your conversion rates by including social media logins.

4. Email Campaigns

Another overlooked place to include your digital media icons is in your email newsletters. Include topics in your niche, as well as talk about what is trending at the moment, then add the “share this now” buttons underneath.

At the end of every email, make sure you include the icons to follow all your social media. Something in your email may really resonate with someone and they would be more likely to follow you at that moment than at any other time. Get them while you can!

It is easy to have a smooth social stream when you have all your ducks in a row, and you make it simple to follow all your channels.

5. Include Instagram Photos

With nearly 1 billion Instagram users, it would be crazy to not include your Instagram photos on your website. By adding Instagram pictures to your blog posts, you are increasing followers on Instagram, as well as increasing engagement on your website.

Photos and videos are a way to really show your personality and get personal with your audience. They show your true character and put a face behind the words they have been reading.

Learn More About Social Media Website Templates

Now that you understand how to use social media integration into your website, you are probably wondering how to create a visually appealing design.

We have many template design ideas, as well as graphic design tips.