Once you set your goals, get to know the different social media platforms and their uses. Think about how YOU use each social media platform, as a consumer.
Here are examples of the most widely used social media platforms for business:
- Facebook – With more than 2.45 billion monthly active users, as of 2020, Facebook is the largest social media network. The platform tends to be emotion driven and is a place where people want to connect with friends and family, in addition to the brands they enjoy and trust. On Facebook, share photos, updates and general news in a way that is engaging to your audience so that they will “like,” share and comment on your posts. Since many users rely on Facebook to connect with friends and family, it’s important that your posts aren’t too “salesy,” or they will be overlooked.
- Twitter – It’s where people go for news and live event updates. Users check this fast-paced platform to monitor and stay up to date on trending topics and events in real-time. This also is a good place for consumers to quickly communicate with brands and businesses they follow. Use Twitter to connect with your followers in a witty way—in 280 characters or less. Share quotes, stats or news with a link to your website or landing page. Be sure to use hashtags to reach a wider audience. Picking the right hashtags can significantly boost the reach of your posts.
- LinkedIn – It’s specifically designed for businesses and professionals. As a professional networking site, LinkedIn is a place of learning. Users rely on the site to expand their expertise and learn more about an industry. LinkedIn is typically an excellent platform for B2B companies to reach their target audience. It is a valuable tool for driving traffic, establishing thought leadership and recruiting employees.
- Instagram – A platform where users can capture, edit and share photos, videos and messages. Use Instagram to take your followers behind the scenes, expand your reach with hashtags or highlight new partnerships. One third of the most viewed Instagram stories are from businesses. Showcase the solution you provide by creating sharable content that entices users to tag and share with friends. That will help expand your reach on this platform. Be sure to regularly update the clickable link in the bio section and use it to drive event registrations, app downloads and purchases.
- YouTube – As video content becomes more and more important in the digital marketing space, YouTube is becoming an increasingly popular social media platform for vlogs (video blogs) and other types of video content. Your business can share anything from how-to guides or instructional videos to tips/tricks and corporate videos. Use YouTube to create engaging videos that get your brand out there. Remember, when it comes to video, quality matters.