You know you should be on social media to promote your business, but which one is the best? The answer depends largely on what audience you are looking to target. For example, if you own a bar with a clientele in their 20s, your social media choice will be different than an investment business that advises retirees.
What’s the first step to picking the right social media channel?
You’ll want to sit down and right a list of the characteristics of your average customer. It can be helpful to picture an actual customer and describe them. How old are they? Where do they live? What are their interests?
How widespread is social media use?
When sites like MySpace and Facebook first came out, a lot of business owners rolled their eyes at social media as a product exculsively for kids with time to waste. But today, 7 out of 10 Americans say they use some form of social media, according to research from the Pew Research Center.
What social media sites get the most use?
YouTube is the current standout in the field of social media sites. Now, you may not think of YouTube as social media, but it is. Many people are logged into social media thanks to the ubiquity of Google accounts. Also, commenting and sharing is very popular on YouTube. According to Pew Research, 81 percent of Americans reported using YouTube. Here are the rankings of all the social media sites:
- YouTube: 81%
- Facebook: 69%
- Instagram: 40%
- Pinterest: 31%
- LinkedIn: 28%
- Snapchat: 25%
- Twitter: 23%
- Whatsapp: 23%
- TikTok: 21%
- Reddit: 18%
Should I be on every social media platform?
It can be daunting once you realize how many social media platforms are out there. But if you start with what audience you are trying to reach, you should be able to narrow down the list. If you are trying to reach mothers of young children, you probably want to prioritize Facebook & Instagram (which you can manage simultaneously since they are owned by the same company). If you are selling a crafting product, YouTube might be your best bet since it offers you an opportunity to create how-to videos. If you are in a B2B market, LinkedIn might be your strongest social media platform. If you are in the tech space, Twitter and Reddit might be the right platforms to invest in.
What do you do once you pick a social media platform?
Now that you know which social media platforms to target you’ll want to begin developing a content strategy. This is where the real strategy comes in. It’s not enough to constantly pump out a shameless commercial saying how your business is the best. You have to offer real insight and information to attract and retain an audience.
How do I get help with my social media strategy?
Hall Davis Marketing Strategies is here to assist! If you want more detailed information on anything in this blog post or if you need content for your social media platforms, contact us today!