In an age that is dominated by instant access to your favorite brands through social media platforms, neglecting to use these channels can mean a loss in both engagement with your customers and in marketing dollars. With Hootsuite’s report projecting that social media will make billions of dollars in revenue alone in the next five years, using this channel isn’t just a nice thing to do. It’s key to staying relevant and profitable.
With so many social media channels, it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones your business should use. But luckily, there are some simple steps to help you choose. Most importantly, factor in the most important characteristics when you’re choosing which channels to use. This blog post will help you discern how to make the best decision for your company.
Tips to Choose the Best Social Media Channels for Business
As a business, there are many considerations and questions you need to ask yourself to figure out which platforms are best for your brand. Read on to find out how to select the right channels to give your business the best chances for success.
Question 1 – What are your social media strategy objectives?
What you want to achieve on social media is an important factor in deciding which platforms to use. Your objectives will determine how you use social media, what kind of content you share, and will ultimately determine which platforms you use.
For instance, if you’re trying to drive traffic to your website, you’ll likely want to focus on posting content on Facebook or Twitter. On the other hand, if you’re trying to increase your social media following, then you’ll want to focus on Instagram, YouTube, or Vine.
Use social media to create and increase brand awareness.
Too often, companies focus on increasing their follower counts and not on how they can maximize those followers. There is a difference between having a lot of followers and maximizing the potential of those followers. It’s important to use social media to increase your brand awareness and build your following.
Use social media to inspire.
Social media is a great place to share your business’ personality. Creating humor and a lighthearted tone on social media is a great way to show your personality as a company. This will help your fans to connect with you on a personal level.
Use social media to engage with your audience.
Social media is a forum to have conversations with your audience. By tapping into how you can use social media to engage with your audience, you’ll find that you can create long-lasting relationships and loyalty.
Question 2 – What channels are your target audience using?
Knowing where your audience spends their time online will help you decide where to focus your social media efforts.
Engaging with your audience on the platforms they’re already using is an easy way to stay on their radar and ultimately convert them into customers.
For example, if your target audience is spending a lot of time on Facebook, you’ll want to focus on creating content for that platform. Or, if your target audience is spending most of their time on Instagram, then you’ll want to focus on that platform.
Question 3 – What channels are your competitors using?
Using the same channels as your competitors can be a great way to show your audience that you’re focusing on creating and sharing quality content. You can also see what kind of content they’re sharing and see what’s resonating with their audience so that you can create similar content and increase your chances of success.
For instance, if the majority of your competitors are focusing their social media efforts on Twitter, then it’s likely that you should also focus on this platform. If multiple competitors are focusing their efforts on Instagram or Facebook, then it’s also a good idea to focus on those platforms.
When deciding which channels to use, consider what your competitors are doing, as well as what your target audience is already using. By combining both of these ideas, you’ll have a clear picture of where you should be focusing your social media efforts.
Question 4 – How many channels should you manage?
There’s no right or wrong answer as to how many channels you should have.
This decision is completely dependent on your business and what you hope to achieve. If you’re looking at social media as a way to drive traffic to your website or increase traffic to your physical store location, then you may want to focus on a small number of channels. However, if you want to increase your following, you may want to consider creating profiles on multiple channels.
For example, if you’re looking to manage a small number of channels, you may want to focus on using Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. These channels will help you increase brand awareness and engage with your audience.
Question 5 – What kind of content do you want to create?
Creating the right content is key to success on social media. Be sure to consider what kind of content you want to create for your audience and for your company.
By focusing your social media efforts on creating quality content, you can help to increase your brand awareness and reach your target audience.
For instance, if you’re looking to increase your following, you’ll want to share more content that ties in with your brand. On the other hand, if you’re looking to drive traffic to your website or increase traffic to your physical location, you’ll want to focus on posting content that drives traffic to your website or store.
Conclusion
Getting started on social media can be a challenge—especially if you don’t know which channels are best for your business. However, by knowing what your social media strategy is, how your target audience is spending their time online, and how your competitors are using social media, you can create a strong social media strategy that will help you reach your marketing goals. If you are unsure where to begin, working with a tried and tested digital marketing firm is the way to go.
Should you need help with your social media marketing strategy, contact Stand Out Ad. We are a full-service digital marketing agency designed to bring your company’s brand, story, and vision to life.