Video Transcription:
What's the best social media platform for my business? Social media can be a really powerful tool for businesses, but there are so many platforms out there. How do
you decide which one that you should use?
For tips on how to choose the best social media platform for your business, keep watching!
Hi, I'm Tom Malesic, Founder and President of EZMarketing and you're watching Ask EZ. This is where small business owners go to get real answers to their marketing questions.
How do you choose the best social media platform for your business? Here are a few questions you should ask.
Do you know who your audience is and where they hang out? Don't choose a social media platform just because it's new or it's popular. If your target audience isn't there, you're going to end up wasting time and money.
Do you want to build an audience? Educate people? Or sell products? Some platforms are better for certain purposes than others, so choose platforms that are well-suited for your business objectives.
While most social media platforms are free to use, advertising costs can vary widely. Think about your budget before you just jump in on a bunch of expensive platforms. Also, think about the type of content that you want to create. If you hate producing videos, you probably just shouldn't jump in on YouTube.
Don't try to be on every platform. I recommend that you focus on two or three at most to start with.
So with these things in mind, let's take a look at a few of the top social media sites for your business.
If I had to choose just one social media site to recommend for businesses, it would be Facebook. It's the largest social network. More than two-thirds of Americans use it, and it's arguably the most robust ad targeting in the world.
Not only that, they own three other popular social media apps: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. It's a powerhouse that you just can't afford to ignore.
Now the downside is it's completely pay-to-play. The app platform is complex, and it changes all the time, so it can be difficult to manage on your own.
Again, owned by Facebook, Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms. Adding new video and e-commerce features, it's definitely a platform to watch in 2021.
Since it's focused on sharing pictures and short videos, Instagram is best for highly visual B2C businesses. Also, it has higher engagement rates than other social media platforms.
Now the downside is it really focuses on a younger audience, and you can't put website links in unpaid posts.
When choosing social media platforms, people sometimes forget about YouTube, but it's actually the second largest social network and the second largest search engine, which makes it great for SEO.
Since the average session is about 40 minutes, it's great for longer educational content. Fewer small businesses use it so there's less competition.
Now the downside is video production does take more time and resources, so it's not for everyone.
And don't forget about LinkedIn. It's not the biggest social media platform, but it's still the place focused on B2B professionals. It's great for building relationships, targeting key decision-makers, and publishing content that builds your authority.
Now the downside is the advertising is very expensive, and there's lots of fake profiles out there.
While those are the big platforms that most small businesses will choose, there are many other valuable social networks to consider.
While losing steam, Twitter is still great for boosting awareness and posting timely, newsworthy content.
Pinterest, an oldie-but-goodie, is still excellent for reaching women with visual products like fashion, beauty, and home goods.
Then there's TikTok. This video platform has exploded in popularity in 2020. We'll see if it holds up over time but for now, it's a great place to reach Gen Z.
Then there's Snapchat. It might be valuable to reach a younger audience, but the lack of sharing options and engagement do make it hard for most businesses.
No matter what social media channel you choose, make sure you have a strategy and a plan behind it. Don't just post and run ads randomly and expect to get a result.
If you want to run effective social media campaigns for your business, but you don't have the time and energy to stay on top of all these channels and platforms, we can help!
Contact us today for a free consultation, and if you like this video, don't forget to like and subscribe!