There is a lot that goes into digital marketing as a business, but social media for business is one of the most important aspects. At Profici, we are firm believers in the power of digital marketing, but none of our digital marketing strategies are complete without an element of social media. If you ask us, it’s just as important as SEO and PPC. If you aren’t using social media for your business, you are missing out on the ability to boost leads, sales and brand awareness.
There are a variety of social media platforms to choose from, some of which are sure to be ideal for your industry and target audience. However, different platforms work best for different businesses, and knowing where your focus should be is key. After all, you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money marketing on a social media platform that your target audience rarely uses. You also don’t want to focus your attention on one platform, when some of your target customers are bound to be using another. In this blog, we have taken a look at the social media platforms that you should be using for your business.
Why Your Business Should Use Social Media
There are a lot of benefits that come with using social media as a business, which is why it’s a key part of building a strong online presence. Some of the most significant benefits include:
- Millions of people around the world use social media, making it an excellent way of boosting brand awareness and brand visibility on a larger scale. By having an active presence on social media, you can reach a wide and varied audience, and spread the word about your products, services and ethos.
- With social media, you can engage with your customers directly. You can answer questions, provide support and address problems in real-time. These interactions build trust and help you to create a strong connection with your target audience, increasing the likelihood of someone becoming a loyal customer.
- Social media marketing is a cost effective option, especially when you compare it to traditional marketing and advertising channels. A lot of social media platforms provide affordable advertising options, allowing you to reach your target audience without breaking the bank.
What are the Best Social Media Platforms for Business
There are a variety of social media platforms out there, and the right one for your business will depend on your industry. Below, we have listed some of the most popular social media platforms, and the pros and cons of using them.
- LinkedIn – LinkedIn is known for being a more corporate and professional social media platform, and it’s mostly used by B2B businesses. It’s an effective way of networking with other people in your industry, whilst promoting your B2B services. You can build connections on LinkedIn, and doing so can showcase your authority and seniority within your industry. LinkedIn doesn’t work quite as well for B2C businesses, as individuals tend to use the platform for job searching and networking, rather than shopping.
- Facebook – Facebook is a widely used social media platform for businesses, and the majority of online businesses have a presence. It’s a good way to connect with customers, share information about products or services, and manage paid advertisements. One of the main downsides of Facebook is how popular the platform is. There are millions of users who could become potential customers, but there is also a lot of competition.
- Instagram – Instagram is a photo sharing social media platform, and it’s a popular choice for businesses who have products to sell. Though B2B businesses do use Instagram, you are more likely to come across retailers sharing photos of their newest products. A lot of young people use Instagram, and so it’s best suited to businesses who are targeting Millennials and Gen-Z users.
- Twitter – Twitter is all about short and snappy posts, so it requires a slightly different approach. Instead of providing a lot of information about a product or service, Twitter is best used for sharing links to recent blogs, conversing with customers and answering questions. Twitter is a popular platform for a lot of demographics, and so it tends to work well for businesses in all industries.
- YouTube – YouTube is a platform for sharing videos, making it a popular choice for businesses that want to market events, days outs, products and services. It’s a good way to increase brand awareness and showcase yourself as an authority in your industry, especially if you upload videos that aren’t frequently asked questions or showcase how to use a specific product.
- TikTok – TikTok is well suited to businesses with a younger target audience, as TikTok is most popular with younger generations. It’s an effective way of advertising and selling products, which is possible on the platform via TikTok Shop, and boosting brand awareness. One of the downsides of TikTok is that it’s a saturated platform and videos are extremely short, and so it can be difficult to get noticed.
As you can see, social media marketing is key for a business of any size, and utilising one social media platform isn’t enough. To get the most out of social media marketing, you need to embrace a variety of platforms and find the ones that are best suited to your business, industry and audience. This is something that some people handle themselves, but a growing number of businesses hand things over to experienced teams, such as Profici. Get in touch today to find out more.
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