Which social media platform is right for your company?
Who is your customer? Are you targeting a mother of two in her mid-thirties who works 40 hours a week, a millennial looking to break into the professional world with innovative ideas, or perhaps you’re trying to reach the Baby Boomer who has worked her entire life and is ready to travel and enjoy her golden years.
Knowing the answer to that question will help you determine which social media marketing strategy and platform is right for your company. Knowing which group of your customers is active on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more will point you in the direction of where to spend your marketing time and budget.
Let’s take a closer look at the most significant platforms and how they may fit your business needs.
Members can pin and post photos, videos and other images to pinboards. This content-sharing site, which carries a strong majority female audience, is a good fit for businesses whose main selling point involves visual imagery – think wedding planner, interior decorator, fashion designer or caterer.
Users can comment on these pinboards and click on the photos, which will take them to the website from which they originated. Each pinboard links to a pinner’s profile page, and this allows Pinterest users to see your business and brand – including photos and videos.
LinkedIn is one of the best ways to connect with other professionals and businesses. This networking site allows you to expand your virtual Rolodex of contacts. So if you’re recruiting for an open position, need professional services from a social media marketing company, or just want to stay in the know with what’s working for other businesses, this is your site.
If you write a regular blog or offer a service rather than a product – think social media management, telecommunications, education or professional recruitment – LinkedIn is a great way to get people to look at your business. It’s not a visual based site, so link sharing and networking are the main perks.
YouTube
A creative company can do wonders with YouTube. This visually fueled site has helped launch start-ups, developed growing musicians and kept the world connected to the latest viral video.
The key to success through YouTube is to tell the story of your product or service in a dynamic way. Boring videos get abandoned faster than online shopping carts with extreme shipping fees. You need a plan to stand out from the competition with captivating, engaging content on YouTube.
Twitter takes a different approach to social media as it is an in-the-moment, ongoing conversation that has grown into a breaking news outlet. It’s an easy way to connect to the world’s biggest superstars and a platform to stay in touch with local businesses.
If you want to reach people in the “now” and want to engage with them when they immediately respond, this is your outlet. Twitter can be especially helpful for businesses who need to get the word out about website downtime, a product recall, or want to invite people to an ongoing event and give live updates throughout.
Facebook is the most universal and arguable the most effective social media platform available. You have an option to customize the look and reach of each post, unlike that of Twitter, making Facebook a great way to set your business apart from others.
Whereas Twitter is an immediate reach for speaking with customers directly, Facebook takes a long-term approach to building relationships, having two-way conversations, and taking in feedback over time that can help you structure your business to meet the demands of customers for the future.
A point not to be missed with this platform is that Facebook is not completely for selling. This outlet allows you to engage and inform your customers. The information you put out on Facebook lets people determine if they trust you, if they identify with your brand and if they want to tell friends and family about your services. Facebook gives your business an opportunity to let people see the behind-the-scenes moments. From a company picnic to a loyal fan shout out, Facebook is about connecting and developing those relationships, which ultimately build your brand and your revenue.
Bottom line, if Facebook is a part of your social media strategy, you need to make sure your business message is not 100% selling. It needs to be a healthy dose of giving and informing with a sprinkle of pitching your products and services mixed in.
Social Media Marketing Firm
No matter if you tackle the social media world yourself or hire a social media marketing firm to monitor it for you, it’s hard to be on all platforms and do it well. Start with three social media outlets that best fit your business and your brand, and keep in mind social media only works if you stay engaged in the conversation.
If you need additional guidance and management help, reach out to us here at Geek Town USA. We are a Detroit digital marketing company and web design firm that has experience in all industry verticals.