The rise of social media marketing has been steady over the past decade and changed how marketers strategize. With so many platforms to choose from, deciding how and what platform to use is difficult for any business. So how do you decide?
For starters, let's look at why social media marketing is good for business. Over one half of the United States population has two or more social media profiles, with 81% having at least one. Consumers have turned to social media to become more educated on products and services they are interested in, therefore social platforms tend to yield higher conversion rates for businesses. Having a social media presence can also help you reach a larger audience and stay relevant in the minds of consumers and other businesses. Overall, social media marketing can help: boost your company's visibility, advertise your products or services, attract new leads, and increase sales. But what platform is right for your business?
Well, that can be tricky. The best social media platform will depend on the following factors: items or services offered, target audiences, and platform flexibility. Each social media platform, like each business, is tailored to specific functions, content, and user groups. We have complied some pointers on how to make the most out of your social media efforts to help grow your business.
Facebook is the most popular social media site, with over two billion monthly users. When it comes to marketing on Facebook try a combination of Facebook ads and organic content to help reach a larger audience. While it is possible to have one without the other, they work best together. People might be less likely to take your business seriously if they only see your adverts and no posts on your page.
Instagram is a social media platform that is primarily used for sharing photos and videos. It enables you to share various media, including photographs, videos, stories, and live videos. Having up-to-date and high quality photographs to share is important to help generate traffic to your posts. Having location tags and hashtags is also a great way to reach more people and generate new followers. Post photos with business-related quotations and visuals, but also post relatable and personal content to make your page more appracoable. Choose a style that you want to follow and keep your content consistent to help build a sharper image in consumers minds.
Twitter is a social media platform that covers various topics, including news, entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Twitter is different from most other social media platforms because it focuses on sharing content based on real-time information. Hashtags are extremely useful for Twitter content as they help promote your postings, and if a user with a large following retweets you, your work may go viral.
LinkedIn is a social media platform where industry professionals share content, network with colleagues, and develop their personal brands. This is the ideal social media platform for service-based businesses, those wishing to network or acquire new clients, or simply to keep up with what's going on in your field. LinkedIn content should be tailored to articles or blog posts that focus on career advancement or showcasing your expertise.
While there are many other social platforms that can be advantageous to businesses, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin are the big four. It is important to understand your business and what fulfills your customers' needs. In the beginning, take things slow and start out with one channel. Build a following and try to post on a consistent schedule. Once you have a foundation set, then venture into other platform and experiment with new ideas. Social media is ever changing and new platforms are popping up everyday.
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