If you are wondering if your business should be on social media, the answer is absolutely YES! Not only does it provide a direct line of communication with your end consumers, but you can learn a lot about them through their pictures and posts. With the massive amount of social media platforms to choose from, it can be very difficult to decide which to focus on. There are several factors that help to determine which social media outlets are best for you.
-Do you sell business to business or business to consumer?
-Who is your target audience? Are they male or female and how old are they?
-What are your goals on social media?
-How many platforms do you have the resources to manage?
Below are some of the most highly recommended social media platforms and some helpful information about them.
Facebook is the world’s largest social media website. It houses a majority of adults in the United States and is the number one recommended platform for all businesses big or small. Men and women ages 25-54 make up over 60% of all Facebook users, but people under the age of 24 make up less than 10%. Not only is Facebook’s userbase powerful, but you can do targeted advertising based on very detailed demographics and interests to increase conversions for far less than traditional advertising methods. The recommended posting is 2-3 times per week.
GOOGLE+
When someone searches for your business on Google, you have to make sure they can find you. A Google+ Page allows you to include pertinent information about your business including name, contact information, hours, map location, photos, reviews and more. If you want to increase your SEO and overall online presence, create a Google+ page and claim your Google listing.
Not only should your business be on social media, but even more importantly YOU should be, from the CEO across the board. This provides the ability to position yourself as an expert in your business and network with potential partners and clients. This is also a great place to target and hire educated professionals in specialized fields.
If you want a social media platform that helps you engage more often with your audience, strengthens your brand and allows you to see what others are saying about you and your competition, then Twitter might be a great option for you. Sending out small tidbits of information up to three times a day is considered “the norm” on Twitter. While tweens and millennials make up the largest user group on Twitter, it is also considered a great platform for the tech-savvy people of the world.
SNAPCHAT
This fast-growing social media app cannot be ignored. Averaging over 2.5 billion snapchats sent daily, it offers a unique way to place your brand in front of thousands of people in no time flat. The biggest userbase on Snapchat are Tweens and Teens followed by those in their 20s. You can share photos and videos with your friends and followers and use event based geo-filters to geotarget a specific area during a set date and time to promote your business.
Instagram has a large following and has been around for many years and most heavily reaches women and millennials. 90% of its users are under the age of 35. When considering whether to use Instagram for your business, one of the biggest factors is your ability to develop high quality photo and video content in order to be successful on it. If you sell visual products, and your business is mobile-friendly, this could be a great fit for you.