What Social Media Channels Should I Be Using?
You already know the importance of social media in this ever-changing business world. It can take your visibility and exposure to a whole new level. But with so many different platforms available, it can be hard to know which is right for you. By the end of this article, you’ll have the information you need to confidently market your business on social media.
1.Start by defining your goals.
Ask yourself what you want your social media presence to accomplish. Your first thought is probably to attract customers and drive sales. But social media can accomplish a lot of things, and there are creative ways to drive sales beyond just running ads. Some companies use social media to increase brand visibility, cultivate customer relationships, or for customer support. Your objectives will help determine the platform you choose. They’ll also help you decide what content to create and what audience(s) to target.
2. Determine what channels your audience already uses.
You want to be where your target market hangs out. Use your audience’s preferred networks instead of trying to pull them onto a platform that feels unnatural for them. Make it easy for your audience to find you.
Factor in not only where your audience has profiles, but which platforms they use most often. Almost everyone has a Facebook or Twitter account, but younger demographics spend more quality time on other platforms like Instagram, so you may want to focus there instead. Also, note how your base uses each platform. Create content that’s similar to what they’re already looking at.
3. Examine the type of content you typically create, or would like to start creating.
Different types of content work better on certain platforms. You don’t want your long-form tutorial videos to fall flat because you posted them on snappy, succinct Twitter instead of YouTube. Consider what content you like to create and what platform will support that. If you like making live videos, Facebook or Instagram are great options. If quick, casual back-and-forth exchanges with customers are where you excel, look into Twitter.
4. Pair your goals, audience, and content with the right platform.
Now, compare the information you’ve just gathered about your business to the platform that best fits your brand’s social media identity. This isn’t an exhaustive deep-dive on each platform, but it’ll get you started.
The largest platform by far, with users ranging from ages 25 to 54. Facebook is excellent for generating leads and running custom ads. However, it isn’t built to expand your reach organically, so you’ll have to put some work into building your network.
This is the best platform if your business is all about immediacy. If you want to communicate to followers about breaking news, announcements, and important messages with short, snappy posts, this is perfect for that. Keep in mind Twitter skews young (mainly 18-29), and posts have a short shelf life.
Unsurprisingly, this is the most popular choice for B2B interactions, especially if your main objective is generating leads. However, most users aren’t as active here as they are on other platforms.
This is the place to be if your biggest client-base is middle-aged women. Graphics-heavy, the platform is best suited to visual content and driving sales. It’s an especially advantageous platform if your content focuses on décor, food, art, fashion, wedding, travel, and the like.
Another platform heavy on the visuals, Instagram is great for brands well-equipped to create striking images. It’s effective for making personal connections with potential and existing customers – especially young female ones, as most users are in the 18-29 age group.
YouTube
While creating content for YouTube can be time- and resource-intensive, it’s a good tool for attracting new customers. Establish your business as an information resource with tutorials and other resources that users can refer back to. This platform is used by all ages and is most popular with men.
Looking for help with your social media? Visit our website wwolfmarketing.com, and let’s get talking.