As more and more businesses incorporate web and mobile apps into their daily operations, they are discovering just how beneficial APIs are for finding new ways to use previously isolated data sources. APIs enable companies to put that data to use and accelerate business growth. Read on to find out more about how APIs can help your business to grow.

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How API Analytics Helps Business Growth

Businesses can use APIs to not only make their digital assets more readily available to developers. They can also use APIs to collect analytics and use those analytics to generate insights about who is using APIs and how they are being used. For instance, collecting API analytics usage data enables you to describe, diagnose, or predict data patterns. Those analytics have the power to solve business problems, such as monetary impacts on organizations. The insights gained can also be used to create a better experience for end-users.

How APIs Create Multi-cloud Acceleration

Modern computer ecosystems are becoming more and more complex. So, businesses need to be able to freely connect different systems to locate data and applications where they will be of most use. APIs abstract that complexity into an interface that developers can use to connect and leverage applications and data across multiple clouds or hybrid developments.

How APIs Improve Software Development Efficiency

The more you can streamline elements of your business, the more you can create operational savings. When you manage APIs well, such as using self-service developer tools for investments and documentation support, they can accelerate software development via making digital assets of high-value more readily reusable and consumable. And because applications are created from independently-deployable APIs rather than monolithic blocks of code, they can provide parallel development efforts, such as maturing software products via rapid integration.

How APIs Help Security

By eliminating security headaches from your business operations, your company can grow more. An API management platform enables security to be implemented consistently while still enabling teams and developers to work autonomously. The robust security capabilities of APIs should include intelligent security algorithms to combat robots, authentication mechanisms to control access, and tools to enforce policies like traffic quotas.

How APIs Provide Stability During Times of Change

As new technologies that are crucial for businesses continually develop, it can be challenging to keep up with the technological evolution. But as changes occur, APIs will continue to be the anchor that enables businesses to adapt and accelerate. When change is afoot, APIs can help businesses to express the data, applications, and expertise that they require for users’ increasing demands.

How APIs Help Businesses to Streamline Operations

When you develop private APIs for your employees to use, you can streamline your business operations. In turn, that enables you to accelerate business growth. For example, a private API could give your salespeople the data they need to help give more accurate and efficient quotes at any time and any place. Alternatively, an API could enable your firm’s helpdesk department to respond to customers more quickly, conveniently, and with fewer mistakes.

How APIs Help Businesses to Enter New Markets

APIs do not only make digital assets easier to use by internal developers. An API can also package digital assets for external developers and partners. In the old days, companies would spend months integrating technology with a single partner. But today, businesses are starting to realize how making APIs available through self-service developer portals can help to enhance a company’s operations, and, in turn, create more opportunities for business growth. The portals allow companies to onboard and support new partners. As more external parties consume your company’s APIs, the more likely those APIs can be leveraged for new use cases outside of the provider’s core capabilities. That can generate ecosystems of consumers and suppliers around the provider’s services. It also helps the provider enter adjacent markets, as well as broaden the scope of innovation efforts without the need for a proportionate increase in internal investments.

API stands for “Application Programming Interface” and basically, it’s a program that allows one piece of software to communicate to another one and use its services and resources.

Now, APIs aren’t really new. Almost two decades ago, eBay announced the launch of their API, which would allow website owners to display any eBay listings they want on their sites. However, eBay took a few years to follow through on the plan. Amazon was actually the first major player to launch an API.

And today, APIs are everywhere. Since the so-called “API economy” is all about collaboration, the fact that APIs make a perfect fit for social media networks is not a surprise at all.

How Social Media APIs can Help You

Overall, social media platforms provide a great source of user data for both online and offline business. But you already know that. So how can a social media API help you increase your bottom line?

Without a social media API, it would be almost impossible to link your website to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account and promote your social reputation. What’s more, you’d be unable to use Google Analytics to properly optimize your website without the use of APIs.

Also, all of the tools your company uses in its promotion are powered by APIs. No matter if you use Foursquare, Pinterest, or LinkedIn in your promotions, APIs are the working force behind the process of exchanging app services and features between your business site and the network.

Some of things APIs allow you to do include:

• Displaying ads on your business website and organizing ad campaigns
• Maximizing the tools that allow you to connect your site to social media platforms
• Placing certain social media buttons that allow users to like and share your posts
• Launching email campaigns and managing your email subscription lists
• Tracking website analytics and using it to boost your visibility on Google

If you never used APIs before, don’t worry, they are quite easy to implement. Your average social media API comes with an API documentation example that gives your in-house developers an idea of how the API will work when implemented.

Examples of Social Media APIs

1. The Embedded Tweets API – Embed Fully Interactive Tweets

Twitter’s easy-to-use API ensured that a huge number of 3^rd-party applications sprang up around the network. This particular API allows users to take any tweet they want and embed it directly into their website or piece of content. The embedded tweets are also interactive, which means your visitors can follow the author of the tweet, like, reply, and retweet it directly from your website.

2. The Facebook Graph API – Create a Better User Experience

Facebook is the biggest social media network in the world that covers demographics across the board. That’s why so many businesses are using the network to gather data and gain valuable consumer insights. Company’s Graph API is basically the core of the platform. It’s designed to give professionals access to everything from photos and videos to locations and conversations in Facebook’s database.

3. The YouTube Data API – Improve the YouTube Functionality

YouTube is filled with countless hours of content. And while you can always embed those videos and display it on your website, with the use of the Data API, you can also request and post the data about those videos on your site. This API works together with both the Player and Analytics APIs, and allows you to insert more YouTube functionalities into your application.

Final Thoughts

If you want to create cutting-edge marketing campaigns that will attract new customers, you need to start using social media APIs. They allow you to communicate with your target demographic, personalize your campaigns, and even add more features to your site. Having access to the features of some of the biggest social media platforms on the planet will definitely boost your marketing efforts and increase your bottom line – no matter what business you’re in.