There is no denying the importance of including social media in a business’s digital marketing strategy. However, there is a wide variety of social media platforms available, and no one platform is perfect for promoting every business. Business owners must know which social media channels are best for them to use.
Consider Outsourcing
Social media marketing can be a time-consuming task, and there is not enough time in the day for one to promote their business on all social media platforms. One of the best ways to simplify the marketing process if by consulting a digital marketing firm. Business owners can seek out social media marketing services from Appiloque to help them identify the best platforms for their niche and implement a social media marketing strategy that drives up sales.
Finding the Best Platform
There are essential steps one can take to identify the best platforms for their business. Using the following steps, business owners can focus their social media marketing efforts on the platforms that work for them, saving them both time and money.
Know the Purpose of Each Platform
Each social media platform attracts a different demographic. It is essential to know what each platform is used for and by whom. Here is a brief rundown of each platform’s purpose.
Facebook is the most widely used of all of the social media channels. This platform is used to form communities and grow a person’s social network. For businesses, this is an ideal platform for creating a community around its brand and establishing brand loyalty.
Instagram touts the youngest base of all the platforms. Instagram is used primarily for sharing images. Businesses with a highly visual impact, such as retail or restaurants, do very well on this platform as revealed by an Instagram marketing agency in London.
Pinterest is an excellent website for highly visual brands. It began as a scrapbooking site and is used primarily by women. This is an excellent platform for businesses that benefit from striking imagery, such as fashion and crafts.
LinkedIn is a platform used for professional networking. This platform attracts the oldest demographic and is respected as a place for job hunting and professional recruiting. LinkedIn doesn’t lend itself well to direct sales but is an excellent place for sharing information about a business and giving recommendations.
Twitter is a lightning-fast social platform that has gained popularity as a place to share breaking news. On this platform, hashtags help users know what topics are trending and what other people are saying about each topic. Twitter is excellent for brand development.
Youtube
Youtube is a video-based social media platform that allows users to upload their videos and view those of other users. The second most popular website in 2019, businesses that have something to teach, share, or that would benefit from a more authentic approach to branding would do well on this platform.
Finding the Best Platform
There are essential steps one can take to identify the best platforms for their business. Using the following steps, business owners can focus their social media marketing efforts on the platforms that work for them, saving them both time and money.
Identify the Audience
Now that the purpose of each platform is established, business owners should find out who their audience is by asking themselves questions like “How old are they?” and “What do they do?”. It’s also a good idea to check which platforms competitors are using and how effectively they can connect with their audience. This can give a business a good starting point for their social strategy.
Set Goals
After pinpointing the audience, businesses should set goals for that audience. Of course, most companies want to drive sales, but each social media platform has unique capabilities that can meet a variety of needs. For example, Facebook can be used to drive traffic to a website, and Twitter can be used to address customer service issues in real-time.
Some Final Thoughts
Websites, e-mail marketing, and search engine optimization are all important aspects of an effective digital marketing strategy. However, social media marketing is a valuable tool that businesses need to include if they want to remain relevant to their audience. Companies that use social media most effectively can build a customer base that repeats business and remains loyal to their brand.
