Social media marketing is a large part of digital marketing strategies and content management. The ability to connect directly with your community and customers is a huge advantage any business manager should take advantage of.
Whether you’re already on social media or you’re about to take the leap, the first crucial step is understanding what apps are right for your business.
Why It’s Important to Select the Right Platforms for Digital Marketing
Just being on social media is not enough to warrant a successful social media marketing strategy. Social media marketing is about more than your web presence, it’s about the proper balance of branding, engagement, community building, promotion, and getting to know your audience in new ways. The best way to use social media to its fullest extent is to be on the right platforms for both your audience and your business.
Although you may be more comfortable using Facebook and are familiar with its layout, is it where your primary audience engages? Instagram may seem trendy and full of media possibilities, but is it the right place to showcase your services in a way that highlights your best attributes?
A little bit of research goes a long way. Think realistically not just about what audience you want to target, but who your current audience is and expand from there. If you build a strong base, your foundation is sure to grow that much more.
What to Think About When Selecting Your Social Media Apps
- Age and generation of your audience
- What media your audience prefers
- What types of media complement your business
- Your brand’s image and tone
- Advertising opportunities
- Scheduling options
Breaking Down Social Media Apps
The truth is that every social media platform has advantages and disadvantages, and every social media marketing agency will have a different opinion about what platforms will work best for what clients. Social media marketing is a balance of statistics and creativity and relies heavily on the authenticity of the brand to pull it through.
Although we’ve put together a great guideline to help you determine what social media apps you may choose to focus on, there is always more info out there and you should always opt for what feels good to you — if you’re a business to business company but have a thriving community on Facebook, don’t abandon the platform to switch to LinkedIn.
Always watch your engagements and see what drives traffic to your website, and from there you can adjust and grow. This guide will, however, provide a baseline to help determine where you should begin for the best chance of success. When in doubt, switch it up and try again! Social media marketing is all about risks, changes, and adapting.
LinkedIn is a great platform for freelancers and business to business companies.
Primary Generation
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Facebook has the ability to build and engage with specific communities through groups, events, and other features. Users often use this platform for custom support, inquiries, and to follow companies. All business industries can utilize this platform if it aligns with their target demographic.
Primary Generation
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Great for visual companies, creatives, products, athleticism, and similar businesses. Be sure to utilize both the primary platform and the story functions to connect with all users and various demographics.
Primary Generation
Advertisement Options
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Great for home decor, lifestyle, and similar product companies who are visual with their promotion.
Primary Generation
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Primary Generation
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Great for tech companies, news companies, freelancers, and other creators. Twitter is fantastic for virtual events, news, pop culture, and identifying trendy topics.
Primary Generation
Advertisement Options
Tone
Media Options
Post Scheduling
Hashtags
Social Media Marketing Advice for Every Platform
• No matter what social platforms you opt to use, remember to think about each audience on each platform. Although it is helpful to use third party software and schedule your posts to go live across every platform using the same content, try to diversify your approach a little bit with each key generation in mind. Use hashtags more often on Twitter, and increase your technical jargon while on LinkedIn.
• Consider default sizes for each platform’s posts, as well. A display image on LinkedIn will not display the same on Instagram, and it’s important that each media you display has a great first impression on every platform.
• No matter how you decide to approach social media marketing, try to keep your business’ products and services in mind and think about where they will thrive. You may not use Pinterest, but your home decor will shine and attract the right customers on the platform. Instagram Stories may feel quick and too short, but a lot can be done and advertising to younger generations with the right content approach.
• Think outside the box, ask for assistance, continue to pay attention to what platforms are thriving and what new offerings are being supplied. You never know, your business could see great growth on social media apps that you did not anticipate. Start small, grow your audience, and genuinely connect with those who are invested in your brand.
If you still have questions, or you want to share how our guide helped you with your business, comment below! You can always email us or connect with us on social media.
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