Which Social Media Platform Should You Use?
Given the popularity of social media, it's important to include it in your content marketing strategy. So which social media channel/s should your business focus on?
As a society, we are hooked on social media.
Combine that with the fact that it’s free to set up on most platforms, and you can see why lots of business owners have given social media a whirl.
Like anything however, if a job’s worth doing it’s worth doing well, and never more so than with content marketing on social media.
But there are so many social media channels – and you have a business to run!
My #1 Tip for Content Marketing on Social Media
Before you start pulling your hair out, or rocking in the corner, here’s a tip to save your sanity: It’s better to have a fabulous presence on one or two social media channels, than a dozen mediocre ones.
So which social media channel/s should your business focus on? It all depends on where your audience is hanging out online.
Choosing a Social Media Platform (or Two!)
Here’s a quick guide to point you in the right direction:
Facebook – Despite recent data privacy concerns, Facebook is still the undisputed king of social media. The latest figures show Facebook has 2.23 billion monthly active users – and it’s particularly popular with Generation X and Baby Boomers.
Twitter – Possibly the easiest social media platform to get up and running. Users have “above average incomes” and you’ll find plenty of millennials, as well as the under-50 crowd, according to Hootsuite.
Instagram – One in three Australians use Instagram, while over 60% of global users are aged 18-34. Ella Doyle from Brisbane Instagram marketing agency Social Cut advises, “Instagram is great for any business with a strong visual element. So think hairdressers, bridal, food, fashion, interiors … “.
Linked In – The territory of professionals and business owners, Linked In has a fairly even split between male and female users. As you would expect, just like the workforce, most users are aged between 25-54.
Google + – Launched in June 2011, this is (or maybe I should say WAS) the place for the tech savvy. However most social media marketers I’ve talked to recently now agree: Google Plus is not worth the fuss.
SnapChat – If you want to reach teenagers and young adults, head to SnapChat. Oh, and figures also indicate that SnapChat users are primarily female (70%).
YouTube – Millennials much prefer watching YouTube over traditional television; and although there are slightly more men than women using YouTube, women watch it more.
Pinterest – I read somewhere that Pinterest referrals spend twice as much money as Facebook and Twitter referrals! If middle aged women are your target market, this is where you’ll find them – over 80% of Pinterest users are women, and the median age of the Pinterest user is 40. .
Of course if you are doing your own social media for business, you should also take into consideration not just where your target market is likely to be, but also, which one you enjoy (as you will find it easier to manage, and be more likely to “play” there!).
But I already have 10 Social Media Accounts!
If you’ve already dabbled in social media, and have a dozen accounts across various platforms, you could delete them altogether. Or, perhaps post something in your bio that says “you’ll mostly find me/us on Facebook and Instagram” or words to that effect, so at least people will know where they should follow you.
You don’t have to be on every social media channel. Remember, it’s quality, not quantity that counts!
