There are few businesses that aren’t harnessing (whether well or poorly) the power that is social media marketing, but with the many, many options, how do you choose the right ones for your business?
Here are a few things to think about when deciding on the social media channels to focus your efforts on.
Key takeaways:
1. Choose social media platforms based on your business objectives, such as brand awareness, sales leads, or consumer engagement.
2. Identify where your target audience is active online to focus your efforts effectively.
3. Analyze competitors’ social media strategies to gain insights and inspiration.
4. Tailor your content type to the platform, using imagery for Instagram and Pinterest, short videos for TikTok, and industry updates for LinkedIn.
5. Utilize relevant and trending hashtags to boost content visibility and engagement.
6. Focus on two or three social media channels to maximize resources and effectiveness, rather than spreading efforts too thin.
What are your objectives?
• Increase brand awareness: Facebook and Instagram are well-established mediums with a large following. Paid advertising is the most effective method to expand your reach on these channels, even with a small budget.
• Drive sales leads: For B2C, Facebook and Twitter are effective choices, and for B2B leads, LinkedIn is well-renowned.
• More consumer engagement: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter not only have a larger user base, these users sign on every day, if not multiple times throughout the day, and are constantly engaging (follow, like, comment, share, etc.) with brands.
Where are your customers?
Understanding where your target audience is online ensures you’re not wasting your time and efforts. There’s no point maintaining a Snapchat account if your customer is primarily men in their 50s.
What are your competitors doing?
If you’re exploring what social media channels to get involved in, a helpful step is to see where your competitors have invested their efforts, and what sort of content consumers are responding well to for inspiration.
What should you post?
The type of content is very dependent on each business and what you’re wanting to share, along with what your target audience would be interested in seeing.
• Imagery: Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and social media app Bereal
• Short video: TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat
• Long video: Youtube, Facebook and Twitter
• Industry updates or company news: LinkedIn and Twitter
• Editorial: LinkedIn and Medium
Social Media hashtags
Using hashtags on social media can boost your content's visibility and engagement. Start by researching relevant and trending hashtags in your niche to reach a wider audience. Keep your hashtags concise and specific to your post's topic, and avoid overloading your captions with them. Incorporate a mix of popular and niche-specific hashtags to strike the right balance. Additionally, create a branded hashtag unique to your business to foster community and user-generated content. Regularly track your hashtag performance to refine your strategy and maximize your social media impact.
Should you be on every channel out there?
To put it bluntly, no. It is best to find two or three channels to focus your time and effort (and money), and do these really well, than spread your resources thinly across many mediums.
Social Media by Industry example
In the dynamic world of the hospitality industry, leveraging the power of social media can be a game-changer. Discovering the ideal social media platforms for your business is crucial, especially in an industry where online presence and guest engagement are paramount. Learn how to navigate social media in the hospitality industry to enhance your brand's visibility and connect with your target audience effectively. Find the perfect social media strategy that not only showcases your unique offerings but also creates memorable experiences for your guests.
Choosing the right social media platform for your business
This can be a pivotal decision in your digital marketing strategy. It's not just about being present on every platform; it's about being strategic and effective. In our upcoming blog, we'll delve into the key factors that will help you determine What social media platform should I use for my business? Stay tuned to find out how to align your business goals, target audience, and content strategy with the most suitable social media platforms for your success
Do you need help?
You think you’ve found the right channels for your business, but you still don’t know where to start?
If you’re not sure what content to post, how to manage the accounts or have the time to commit, stress no more! Contact us and we’ll help you improve your online presence.