At this point, if you own a business, you know you need to be on social media. With 81% of the population having at least one social media profile, and over half having two or more, it’s a no-brainer. With so many options, how do you know which is right for you? Today we will discuss five of the most popular social media sites for business: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Stay tuned for a follow up article about five other popular sites: SnapChat, Facebook Messenger, Pinterest, Yelp and TikTok.
Facebook is still the most popular social media site, with over two billion monthly users. It has a wide and varied demographic, making this social media giant one of the best social media sites for business.
Facebook acts as a microsite for your company, providing contact info, pictures, etc. Your profile appears in Google searches, and as with SEO for your website, it will rank higher the more often you post updates and interact with followers.
Facebook’s advertising is the most developed of any social media site. The targeting function is what sets it apart: you have the ability to target your audience by age, gender, interests, relationship status, just to name a few. You need to pay for this service, but it definitely delivers a hefty bang for your buck.
With over 326 million monthly users and 500 tweets a day, Twitter is, at its best, an engaging platform for conversation. Businesses that rely heavily on their customer service have a lot to gain from being active on Twitter. Showcasing responsive and caring customer service improves and maintains brand awareness and loyalty.
Twitter’s quick, informal feel makes it easy for followers to reach out and for you to respond. Businesses that take the time to post and engage on Twitter see the most success.
Of all the social media sites, Twitter uses the hashtag most effectively. It makes sense, since the hashtag phenomenon got its start on Twitter. Hashtags are an invitation for others to join your conversation. This increases the chances for new followers and hopefully, new customers.
Hashtags are also a great way to drive traffic back to your site when you post blog articles. By using relevant hashtags, you will introduce a new audience to your website.
Every single post you put out on Twitter will make it to your followers’ feeds; there is no complicated algorithm to determine what your followers see. The only caveat is that Twitter feeds fill up very quickly, so you need to make sure you are posting frequently on Twitter to stay in front of your audience.
There are over a billion monthly Instagram users worldwide. Instagram is very effective for businesses that have a story to tell visually, and an “experience” or “lifestyle” to sell along with its products or services. Instagram offers shoppable posts, making it a great option for businesses selling tangible products.
Facebook owns Instagram, so it’s easy to crosspost between the two sites. Users can take advantage of the same advertising benefits as with Facebook.
Instagram makes it easier to grow your audience organically (vs. paying for advertising), making it a perfect option when you don’t have a large advertising budget.
In order to post on Instagram, you must have an image or video (opposed to posting only copy with no images), making these posts more memorable for viewers.
Shoppable posts on Instagram allow businesses to sell their products and services by adding tags and links to posts.
Instagram Influencer Marketing isn’t something feasible or relevant for all businesses, but depending on your business type and budget, can be an effective advertising method.
Hashtags aren’t just for Twitter. Instagram users rely heavily on hashtag use to build audiences.
Instagram audiences are highly engaged users, so be prepared to spend some time interacting with your followers for maximum results.
YouTube
YouTube has almost 2 billion monthly users and over 4 billion videos are viewed daily, so chances are good that most businesses can find their target market there. Posting videos on YouTube offers businesses a unique and creative way to share their message with audiences. YouTube is owned by Google, which gives users a whole slew of benefits.
YouTube advertisers have access to Google’s advertising platform, which is helpful when running YouTube ads.
Videos can be optimized using search keywords when posting on YouTube. At no extra cost, you have the ability to include search keywords in your title, description and a list of keywords in the keywords tool.
YouTube videos show up in the Google search results pages because of this relationship between YouTube and Google.
There are many ways to communicate with your audience through YouTube. Viewers can comment on your video, and you can showcase your customer service with timely and caring responses. There’s also a private message function, allowing you to communicate directly with followers.
LinkedIn isn’t just for individuals seeking jobs and wanting to expand their professional network. With 630 million users, LinkedIn has powerful networking abilities that most businesses will benefit from. LinkedIn is an effective tool for Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumers (B2C) alike.
Building a large and meaningful network on LinkedIn means increased visibility when sharing articles from your website. Tagging companies and individuals mentioned in your articles further increases your reach.
Recommendations on LinkedIn are an effective way to increase your company’s credibility. These recommendations and reviews from employees, clients and partners, both past and present, go a long way in boosting your reputation as a company that people want to do business with.
Articles posted to LinkedIn can drive traffic back to your website. Encourage your employees to share these articles, and tag individuals and companies mentioned in the articles as ways to reach a larger audience.
LinkedIn offers targeted advertising. While it’s not as advanced as Facebook’s, it is very effective if you want to target people based on job title and position.
Google and other search engines rank LinkedIn company pages, so it will help your company’s SEO. Make sure your content is updated often to improve your ranking.
We hope this rundown of five of the best social media sites for business is helpful in deciding where to focus your energy. If your social media marketing could use a boost and you don’t have the time to manage it, Blindspot can help. We work with you to find the social media plan right for your company. Contact us today with any questions you have!