What's the Best Social Media Platform for your Business?
Does the thought of using social media for your business make you feel like an awkward teenager starting high school again? Will I be popular? What if no one likes me? Is there a solution that won't make my face break out?
Social media is a lot like high school in some ways. Choosing the right activities and the right friends, building your reputation, being your true self—these things can make a difference to your status just like they did in school. If you're planning your social media platforms for the coming year, here are some things you need to take into consideration.
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn—these are just the tip of the iceberg. Each of these have their own particular attributes, but the main one you should concern yourself with is which ones are your customers using? Doing some simple research can show you which platforms your customers typically use. While you could simply ask them, most of these sites have the data demonstrating their demographics. For example, Pinterest is popular with women. Many of its boards center on fitness, recipes, weddings, clothing, furnishings, and hairstyles. Depending on the audience you want to reach, it may be an excellent choice for showcasing your products or generating traffic back to your website.
Research indicates visual content is becoming more popular, so this could be the time to introduce a new social media platform for your business. For more information on sites similar to Pinterest, take a look at this article on how to use these sites for your business.
When it comes to managing your social media, choosing one to three platforms is a better idea than spreading yourself too thin. Finding the right balance between posting too often and posting not enough can be tricky. Some platforms may call for more frequent posts, so be sure to keep track of what's working best for your particular business.
Make sure you are using the social media sites to your best advantage, as well. Check out their help pages and use any tools they have to offer. Facebook has trending topics posted—this is a great way to keep your content fresh and current.
Probably the most important thing to consider for the coming year is making sure your content is authentically you. Engage your customers with your own brand of unique ideas. Even if you're sharing others' content, make sure that it is presented in a way that reflects your individuality—change the headline, for example, or add your own comments.
It's not necessary to be on every social media platform there is, any more than it would have benefited you to have participated in every activity in high school. Start with the ones that get you in touch with your potential customers, manage them well, and show your personality and enthusiasm. Your business will be the 'popular kid' in no time.