Should you have social media icons on your website?

HERE’S ONE VIEW:

Mindful Icon Placement 

When it comes to your website’s aesthetics, be cautious about the placement of your social media icons. Headers, the visual centerpiece of your site, might seem like the prime location, but consider this: instead of captivating your audience, these icons could be leading them away. It’s like hosting a party and accidentally sending your guests to the neighbour’s shindig!

Strategic Footers

And colourful icons at the bottom? Not the best move either. Think of it as decorating your front porch with too many attention-grabbing signs – it might distract from the welcoming ambience you’ve crafted. I vote for a more selective approach. How about reserving those vibrant badges for the grand finale – your contact page? It’s like saving the best fireworks for the grand finale.

Navigating Traffic Flow

Let’s talk about the traffic flow, shall we? Gaining website traffic is an art, and keeping it is a masterpiece. Placing those icons strategically, maybe exclusively on the contact page, ensures your visitors are not tempted to take a detour. Think of it as directing traffic on a busy street – you want everyone headed towards your main event, not taking unexpected exits. Why roll the dice and risk sending your potential customers on an unexpected journey elsewhere? 

AND HERE’S ANOTHER VIEW:

Prominence enhances connectivity.

Opposing the idea that social media icons should not be prominent, I think you may find that some social media managers may argue that making these icons more visible fosters better connectivity with the audience.

They would be quite correct to say that a strong online presence is crucial for brand recognition and customer engagement, and prominently placed social media links facilitate easier access for users who prefer to connect through those platforms.

Encouraging viral engagement:

Another viewpoint is that strategically placing social media icons can encourage visitors to share your content more readily – but only if you have activated a plugin to encourage the sharing of your blog posts on social media.

When these icons are noticeable, visitors may be more inclined to share interesting products, blog posts, or promotions with their networks. This can lead to increased visibility.

Boosting social proof:

Again, some social media managers might argue that prominently featuring social media icons on a website contributes to building social proof.

When visitors see a substantial following or active engagement on social platforms, it instils confidence in the brand.

This, in turn, can positively influence potential customers, who may be more likely to trust and engage with a business that has a strong social media presence.

WHICH DO YOU FEEL IS CORRECT?

With my website designer and marketing hat, I would like to NOT encourage website visitors to disappear off into the rabbit hole of social media.

With my social media manager’s hat the second opinion has legs.

But overall, once you have a visitor to your website, you really do want to do everything you can to keep them there and engaged.