Do you still believe that social media is just a place where you only post selfies and memes?
Well, you couldn’t be further from the truth.
Whilst memes are still hilarious and selfies still make an appearance, social media can be used for so much more.
In terms of your business, it can bring amazing benefits.
But which social media should you be using for your business?
In this article, we’ll answer that very question.
Does Your Business Need to Be On Social Media?
No, not really…
That was sarcasm in case you didn’t realise.
Not having your business on some form of social media means you’re potentially leaving thousands of pounds on the table.
Social media platforms have billions of users.
By being on these platforms you have access to these users.
We understand that a lot of these users won’t be direct customers of yours.
That’s fine.
All you need to do is attract a tiny proportion of these users to your brand and you could have a thriving business.
What to Consider When Choosing a Social Media Platform For Your Business
Let’s take a look at what to consider when it comes to social media for your business:
Understand Your Audience
Your audience is an important consideration when deciding on a social media platform to use.
That’s because certain platforms tend to attract particular audiences.
There isn’t much point in focusing solely on TikTok if the majority of your customers are on Facebook.
Although, if you can get on multiple platforms this is a great strategy.
But don’t stretch your resources too thin.
Start off with 1-2 platforms then once you get some traction begin to look at other social media platforms.
Set Your Goals
What do you want to achieve exactly from your social media strategy?
Is it:
- More Clients?
- Greater brand awareness?
- To go viral and become the next big trend?
Write down the goals you want to achieve from social media, otherwise, you’ll end up posting random content and spinning your wheels.
Businesses that do well on social media don’t post randomly. They know exactly what they are posting and why they are posting.
So get crystal clear on the goals that you want to achieve and start making small incremental steps to get there.
Your overall social media goals should give you an idea of which platform you should be using.
Analyse Competitors
Social media leaves clues.
That’s why it’s important to look at what competitors are doing and analyse what has worked well for them.
And also what hasn’t worked for them.
Now, before you jump the gun and start stalking your competitors like a hungry lion roaming the African savanna you need to be mindful of a few things.
Firstly, DO NOT and we repeat do not copy what your competitors are doing.
People are social media savvy these days so they can sniff out a copycatter a mile off.
And secondly, remember that if a competitor is doing well on social media don’t see this as a threat.
See it as a positive.
If they are doing well on social media, that means there is an opportunity for your business to do well too.
It’s also an indicator that you should be using that particular social media platform for your business.
Consider Content Type
The type of content you want to create will inform which platforms you should be on.
Certain platforms are more suited to certain types of content e.g. Tik Tok is suited to short-form video whereas X is better suited to short-form text.
If social media is a marketplace for attention, think of content as the currency which buys you that attention.
Social media platforms are littered with all different types of content including:
- Images.
- Text.
- Video.
- Stories.
- Live video.
The sheer variety of content can be overwhelming at times.
This is why you need to focus on the type of content you want to share.
That doesn’t mean you have to stick to just one.
But you need an idea of the variety that most aligns with your goals, resources and brand.
The best strategy in the beginning is to test the type of content that gets the best results.
If you find that video tutorials of your products get more views than text-based tutorials then you should focus on video.
Social media is the ultimate instant feedback machine.
By posting consistently over a long period you’ll collect mass amounts of data which you can use to help your content going forward.
Evaluate Resources
When picking a social media platform for your business it’s important to analyse your resources and prioritise a certain platform.
If you have some budget for videos and high-quality images then Instagram might be a good fit for you.
Then you can repurpose your Instagram content for other platforms.
You need to also be realistic.
Don’t try to do the same level of production as Fortune 500 companies. They spend hundreds of millions on marketing.
In 2023 McDonald’s spent approximately 388.9 million dollars on advertising worldwide.
You would think that a company like McDonald’s which has the size and reputation they do wouldn’t need to spend so much money on advertising.
But they know the power of advertising and they have the resources and capital to spend like a shopaholic walking down Rodeo Drive.
Luckily for you, there are creative ways that you can create high-quality content without breaking the bank.
Here are some tips to help you achieve this:
- Repurpose Existing Content – Look at the content you already have and see how you can repurpose it into different formats. For example, turn a blog post into an infographic or a podcast episode into a video.
- Use Free or Affordable Tools – There are many free or affordable tools available for content creation, such as Canva for graphic design, Audacity for audio editing, and OpenShot for video editing.
- Leverage User-Generated Content – Encourage your audience to create content for you. User-generated content not only saves you time and money but also helps build a stronger connection with your community.
- Collaborate with Influencers or Experts – Partnering with influencers or experts in your niche can help you create high-quality content at a fraction of the cost. They can provide valuable insights and expertise to your audience.
- Focus on Evergreen Content – Create content that remains relevant over time. Evergreen content, such as how-to guides, tutorials, and educational resources, continues to attract traffic and engagement long after it’s been published.
- Invest in Training – Invest in training for yourself or your team to improve content creation skills. There are many online courses and resources available that can help you learn new techniques and strategies without spending a fortune.
- Crowdsource Ideas – Involve your audience in the content creation process by asking for their input and feedback. This not only helps you generate ideas but also ensures that your content resonates with your target audience.
Helping Your Business Thrive on Social Media
We hope you enjoyed this guide to choosing the right social media platform for your business.
If you’re still not sure about choosing the right platform for your business, don’t panic, we can help you.
We’re a digital marketing agency with many years of experience advertising on social media for businesses.
We’ve successfully delivered social media campaigns over the years that have generated millions of impressions and attracted a flurry of attention for our clients.
If you would like to know more about how we can help your business run effective social media campaigns then please contact us.