Over half of users browse social media to research companies and their products. As a small business owner, that’s something you can take advantage of. But what are the best social media platforms for business marketing? You might know how to sell products and treat customers well, but you may not know the best place to communicate your brand’s value.
If you have an e-commerce store, Google My Business listing, or actual company website, you’re likely on social media already. You may not be on the best platforms for your business, though. Certain social media channels serve different industries and business models better.
Or, perhaps you’re wary of breaking into social media marketing at all. Read on for a little more clarity about the best social media platforms for business growth (and why you need them).
It should come as no surprise for you to see LinkedIn at the top of these social media platforms. Although it’s primarily for business networking, it’s also a directory and more. With over 46% of all traffic to the company website coming from LinkedIn, you can’t afford to miss out.
If you don’t have a business profile set up on the platform, now’s the time to create one. Not only will a profile make it easier to find new hires, but it will grow your online network, too. You can increase your credibility with other business partners (or future talent) by sharing valuable content about your brand, industry, etc.
A Linkedin business page is perfect for small business owners who benefit from personalized messaging. If you’re looking to stand out in your industry, this is the platform for you. Of course, you can stand out in other areas, too.
Facebook offers a full suite of business services for marketing, hosting e-commerce products, and more. Where LinkedIn serves freelancers and independently-run businesses, Facebook supports a wider variety of small businesses. With over 90 million small business profiles on the platform, it has much to offer for marketing on social media.
If you don’t have a website for your business, Facebook can help out. You can sell products through a business page, list contact details, message customers, and more. Depending on your budget and time for marketing and web design, Facebook might be your best solution.
Many localized businesses, including physical storefronts, use Facebook business pages as a modernized business listing. Of course, Google offers the same basic information, but this social media platform takes it a step further, giving your more options.
Instagram is one of the best social media platforms for business marketing if you sell products. Ecommerce offers many benefits, including the cost reduction of a physical storefront. You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you advertise your goods like a pro.
You can sell services on Instagram, too, but video marketing is more successful on Facebook. On the upside, if you offer goods and services, Instagram integrates with Facebook, too. You can market across channels to generate even more traffic.
Strong visual content catches a user’s attention faster than even five seconds of an ad promo. Thumbnail covers, grid layouts, and more make or break your success on this platform. All you need is decent lighting, a smartphone, and a clear brand story to market your content better than before.
If you’re all about content marketing, you need to get on Twitter. Although you can drive healthy engagement on all the other social media platforms mentioned, interaction is the name of the game in the Twittersphere. You’ll find polls, quotes, and other pithy texts get the most reach here.
Although you’ll need video and other graphic content, successful tweets are all about the punchline. You can always repurpose graphics from other social media platforms, too. The best way to a successful Twitter campaign is to stay on-trend.
Depending on your industry, you may have a social media holiday to launch a hashtag campaign for. You can also follow industry leaders, retweeting their content and connecting it back to your brand. The important thing about Twitter is communicating with a purpose to avoid adding to the noise.
Like Instagram, Pinterest is another strong visual platform. If you’re into clickable content and vision boards, you need to advertise your goods on this platform. Social media marketing on this platform is all about redirecting to your website.
If you have graphics of your customers using products, pinning these images (with your branding) can communicate attractive products. You can do the same on Instagram, but you’ll have to engage customers on this platform directly. On Pinterest, it’s all about the quality of the ads and the strength of your messaging.
Marketing on social media
It’s time to start exploring your options. Evaluate where you stand with current content. If your social media marketing is to succeed, don’t spread yourself too thin.
Whether you’ve hired a social media specialist or are DIYing your socials, pick the right platforms for your business. You’ll likely want no more than two to three platforms, especially if you use email and have a website, too.
Making the most of social media marketing means intention and clarity in your messaging. If you’re unclear about marketing your brand, make sure you know your audience. You should also have a strong sense of your brand identity if you hope to succeed.
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