Knowing how to use social media is a skill everyone in business must possess these days. Being rather adept at social media myself, I had an easy time transitioning my personal use of it to a business atmosphere. Not only are large corporations jumping on board, the fashion industry has been forever changed by its own designers, boutiques and bloggers taking advantage of the benefits to social marketing.

For the first time in history, style icons and fashion designers can connect with their fans in real time and on a more personal level. Social media gives those of us not residing in Manhattan a glimpse into the fabulous world of fashion, with just a few clicks of a mouse or touch on an iPhone.

Here I will discuss the industry's most vital social assets and how designers, magazines and fashion bloggers are using them build and maintain a successful business in a highly competitive market.

If you are an up-and-coming designer or blogger, using these social media tools is the easiest (and cheapest) way to build a fan base and get the word out about your brand. I use each of the social media platforms discussed in this article, so be sure to follow me if you're a newbie!

The Originals

Facebook and Twitter are the motherboards of social media in my mind. Both are all about sharing and retaining information from those you are interested in. The content is up to you and the options are endless. Most of my favorite designers and bloggers are on both social platforms, but just being on them isn't enough.

The key to a successful social media campaign is posting consistent, creative content and interacting with your fans and followers. The brands that have been most successful on these platforms typically post new content at least once per day, and provide interactive experiences through contests, polls and sneak peeks of new collections, events and the like.

By being "social" and connecting with others with similar interests online, you can easily increase your audience and build brand awareness for free. As most companies have seen, the best campaigns are ones that invite and encourage their fans to get involved within their social media pages.

Many brands use contests, polls and sneak peeks of new collections, events and the like to increase interaction on the page and among their followers. As long as you keep the content fresh and mix it up, you should be able to keep your reader's attention!

Photo Apps

Instagram is a very popular iPhone app that allows you to take pictures on your phone, add a filter, border and text, and then share them via social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook. Fashion bloggers have made a big dent in the usage of this app, by uploading their "Outfit of the Day," a pic of their most recent purchases, or a sneak peek of a fashion show they are viewing.

Instagram, like Twitter, allows you to build up a profile (see photo #2), gain a following and follow other Instagram users. The app also allows you to "like" or comment on pictures you love, notifying that user that you connected with them and encouraging that user to interact with you.

Pose is a similar app, but it is specifically targeted for those interested in fashion. While Pose does not have a filter feature to make your pictures look cool, it has a tagging feature, allowing you to identify the designer or brand you are wearing, how much the item costs and where you bought it. It is quickly becoming a popular tool for fashion bloggers to gain a following based on their personal style.

As with Instagram, you can "heart" or comment on pictures you like, build a profile, and follow those you admire. Another unique aspect of Pose is the fact that it has featured "Posers" and recommended users, which I actually happen to be on the list of! It's a fast and easy way to find the top bloggers on the app and follow those with the highest number of interactions.

Online Inspiration Boards

Ask any of my girlfriends and they'll tell you inspiration boards like Pinterest and Tumblr are the best and worst inventions ever. Why? The sites are incredibly entertaining and fun, but a complete drain of your time (not to mention, you'll never get anything done at work).

These sites allow you to follow your friends, celebrities, bloggers, etc and see a real time feed of what they like. Everything from art, food, clothing, interior design and more can be found on Pinterest. The interactive element comes in when you "repin" or reblog any other user's posts onto your own boards. Most of my friends use it for recipe or interior design inspiration, but a lot of fashion bloggers are using it as a way to keep track of their "most-wanted" items and outfit inspiration.

On a higher level, CurrentlyObsessed.me is a new website where fashion lovers can "stalk" their favorite fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers and get a real-time feed of the products and pieces they are currently coveting. Right now the site is accessible by private invitation only, but I have 75 free passes to give away to my readers.

If you'd like to get exclusive access, visit CurrentlyObsessed.me and enter private code The_Style_ScribeObsessed to log in. Be sure to "stalk" The Style Scribe!

---

Beck is the editor of fashion and personal style blog, The Style Scribe.