Which social media platform is best for your business?
By Megan Lamkin | Link Promos
Let’s face it – staying on top of multiple social media platforms takes much planning and dedication, which many of us simply don’t have the time for! Rather than becoming overwhelmed by trying to keep up with them all, why not learn which one(s) will benefit your business the most?
Prior to selecting which platform(s) are best for your business, it is important to ask yourself the following questions:
1. Who’s your target audience – where are they located, what are their interests?
2. Is your business B2C, B2B, or both?
3. What industry are you in?
4. What’s your overall social media goal?
Although there are many, the most commonly used social media platforms are Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Let’s review each one further!
Facebook: There’s no denying that every business should have a Facebook presence. With over 8.5 million active users in Pennsylvania alone, both B2B and B2C businesses can reap the benefits from utilizing this platform. Whether you want to share your blogs, reach a new audience, build relationships, post videos & photos, or learn more about your audience – Facebook is great for creating brand awareness, building communities, performing detailed targeting, boosting SEO, driving traffic to your website, and relating to customers. Not only can you boost your posts, Facebook provides some of the most detailed insights available on user demographics and behaviors. Businesses can define their audience by city, state, country, income level, gender, age, interests/hobbies, job title, and so much more! Having this information empowers you to cut through the clutter and perform highly detailed targeting. Bottom line – you can reach who you want, when you want, and where you want to reach them.
LinkedIn: Linkedin is a professional social media network best suited for those focused on business activity. Its users consist of potential clients who want to connect with you. Did you know that four out of five LinkedIn members drive business decisions? Its users have 2x the buying power of the average web audience, making it the ideal platform for B2B. LinkedIn also provides powerful insights to help you reach your ideal audience. You can target professionals by location, job title, company size, industry, and more!
Instagram: If you have a visual product, then this one’s for you! Instagram is a B2C social media platform intended for the use of photos. You can engage with customers, create brand awareness, and develop brand loyalty. Instagram also uses many of the same ad capabilities as Facebook, making it a great option for more detailed targeting.
Twitter: Twitter is best used for what’s happening now. It’s the perfect platform for posting current events, trends, reviews, and hot topics. Twitter does have a limited character field (280 characters or less), however, its users can still post images, videos, and blogs. Businesses can gather instant feedback about their products and services, direct traffic to their website, monitor their brand’s reputation, enhance their customer service, see what’s trending with their competitors, and ultimately reach a wider audience outside of their existing followers.
Alignable. Another social media platform that is similar to LinkedIn but more localized, is Alignable. Although it has the least amount of users of those previously listed, do not underestimate its value. Alignable has become increasingly popular among business owners and representatives within a specific community – and for good reason! Compared to LinkedIn (which is divided into larger and broader regions), Alignable allows its users to connect with other business owners in their area. Through this platform, users can find new referral opportunities, get recommended, receive advice from their local community, post their products/ services and events, and tell their story. If you’re a small business looking for a more intimate B2B platform, then Alignable might be the best social media platform for you!