It can be overwhelming to decide where your business should be when it comes to the number of social media platforms out there to choose from. You don’t want to put the energy into a social media platform that doesn’t make sense for your business but, how is one to know when everyone has a different perspective on which is more important? A general rule of thumb you should follow this year is — your business should be on Facebook, Instagram, and it should have a Google business listing. If you want to connect with like-minded business owners, then you should also be on LinkedIn. The one exception would be that if you deal with B2B instead of B2C then you can probably skip Instagram. If you want to create video content to spread to a wider range of people, you should be making TikToks and Instagram Reels to reach new audiences online.
On average, 93.79% of businesses use social media. If you’re part of the 6.21%, it’s time to start an online presence like, immediately. It’s not as simple as posting a cat video and calling it a day though. There should be a social media strategy behind your social media posts, so let’s dive into which platforms your business should be on and what you should be posting to make an impact on your bottom line.
There are numerous benefits to your business being on social media. Some of the most significant benefits include:
1. Increased brand awareness: Social media platforms can help you reach a wider audience while increasing brand awareness. By creating engaging content, you can get your message in front of a large number of people who are actively engaged.
2. Better customer engagement: Social media provides a platform for businesses to engage with their customers and build relationships with them. You can respond to customer inquiries, provide support, and offer promotions and discounts to your followers. Make sure to respond to comments, mentions, and questions whenever possible – even if it is simply to direct customers, users, and followers to a FAQ article or an online support forum.
63% of customers expect companies to offer customer service through their social media – and 90% of social media users have already connected with a brand or business through their chosen platform.
3. Increased website traffic: By including links to your website in your social media posts, you can drive traffic to your website and increase conversions.
4. Cost-effective advertising: Social media advertising is often more cost effective than traditional advertising methods. You can target specific demographics and interests, ensuring that your message is seen by the right people and you can measure your results more effectively.
5. Competitive advantage: Being active on social media can give you a competitive advantage. By staying up-to-date with industry trends and engaging with customers, you can set yourself apart from your competitors who are not online, or that don’t participate actively.
6. Customer insights: Social media tools and analytics provide valuable insights into your customers’ preferences, opinions, and behaviours. By analyzing this data, you can improve your marketing strategies and better meet your customers’ needs which in turn helps increase your conversion rates.
7. Improved SEO: Social media signals can have a positive impact on your search engine rankings. By creating high-quality content and engaging with your followers, you can improve your online visibility while ranking higher on search engines.
The benefits of your business using Facebook
Any industry would benefit from having a Facebook business page whether you’re a real estate agent, a lawyer, a transportation company, a roofing company, a bake shop, or a clothing store. Many businesses are expanding their Facebook presence by creating a brand page and or specific groups to drive more traffic to their company website with the goal of increasing their sales in mind. One out of every three small business owners believes that their Facebook Page has assisted them in gaining new clients and we can vouch that ours definitely has!
Facebook offers several ways to engage with customers, such as responding to comments, answering questions, and offering support. This can help build customer trust and loyalty, leading to repeat business and referrals.
Facebook also has affordable ad options and has made it possible for small businesses to easily target their audience and go beyond a simple “like” to get to know their customers through targeted advertising tools. You can create and customize your ads based on specific demographics, interests, and behaviours to ensure your ads are seen by the right people. You can then track engagement, reach, and conversions, and use this information to optimize your content and advertising campaigns both digitally and in your traditional advertising as well.
The benefits of a business using Instagram
All businesses can usually benefit from using Instagram. It can help you build your brand, engage with your customers, reach a wider audience, and achieve your business goals with a photo or video-based content approach.
Instagram’s focus on visual content makes it an excellent platform for visual storytelling. You can showcase your products, services, and brand through eye-catching images and videos, creating an emotional connection with your audience.
Instagram also provides several tools and features to help you engage with your customers, including direct messaging, comments, stories, and polls. This can help you build relationships with your audience and address any customer queries or concerns.
You might want to know that Instagram is a popular platform for influencer marketing, where businesses partner with influencers to promote their products or services. This can help you reach a wider audience and increase your brand credibility and trust.
And, Instagram’s e-commerce integration feature allows businesses to add links to their products on their Instagram posts and stories which can help you drive more traffic to your website and increase sales with a fairly direct approach.
The benefits of a business using LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an effective social media platform for B2B marketing. It can provide many benefits to your business, including developing networking opportunities, brand building, recruitment, advertising, thought leadership, industry insights, and partnerships and collaborations.
It provides a platform for you to connect with professionals and businesses in your industry, allowing you to build your network and increase your visibility. Sharing your business’s achievements can help you build your brand and reputation. This can help you establish your business as a thought leader in your industry. And, by creating and sharing high-quality content, you can position your business as a trusted authority in your field.
LinkedIn is also a popular platform for recruitment, making it easier for businesses to find and hire talented professionals. You can post job listings, search for candidates, and even reach out to potential employees directly. LinkedIn’s advertising platform allows businesses to target specific audiences based on job titles, industry, company size, and other criteria. This can help you reach the right people with your advertising campaigns and generate more leads and conversions. Additionally, it can help you identify potential partners and collaborators for your business. By connecting with other businesses and professionals in your industry, you can explore new partnerships and collaborations that can benefit your business.
The benefits of a business using Twitter
Twitter is a social media platform that is known for its real-time and quick communication style. It’s a platform for people to voice their concerns or opinions like a public journal if you will. If you’re asking your customers their opinion on a topic, that creates a lot of engagement. It allows you to connect with your audience and stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends in your industry. By using relevant hashtags and engaging with your followers, you can build your brand and increase your visibility. You can also join relevant Twitter chats and participate in industry-related discussions to connect with like-minded individuals and build your influence.
Take note though…we are currently in a grey area when it comes to the future of Twitter as we step through 2023, with Elon Musk taking over the Twitterverse. Only time will tell, but in the meantime, don’t necessarily cross Twitter off your list. Just be mindful of how much time you invest there, and ask yourself if what you are doing will or will not make an impact on your bottom line.
The benefits of a business using YouTube
YouTube‘s focus on video content makes it an excellent platform for visual storytelling. You can showcase your products, services, and brand through engaging videos, creating an emotional connection with your audience. By consistently posting high-quality and engaging video content, you can build your brand and attract more followers.
YouTube is the second-largest search engine after Google, which means that having a strong presence on YouTube can help improve your SEO. By optimizing your videos with relevant keywords and tags, you can increase your visibility and attract more traffic to your website. Advertising on YouTube also allows businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviours which can help you increase your reach and generate more leads and conversions. Its e-commerce integration feature allows businesses to add links to their products on their YouTube videos and therefore can help you drive more traffic to your website to increase sales.
The benefits of a business using TikTok
Now, we know you may be thinking, “I don’t know how to dance” or “Only teenagers use that app.” But we’re here to debunk those rumours. It’s a very popular app that is increasing in use amongst the older crowd. TikTok’s algorithm is designed to promote engagement and entertaining content, which can help your business’s videos go viral and reach a larger audience. By creating content that is unique, creative, and fun, you can increase your visibility and attract more followers. TikTok provides a platform for businesses to showcase their brand’s personality and values through creative video content but the energy you need to invest in content creation plays a crucial role in obtaining success on this platform. It can definitely help you build a strong brand identity and establish a connection with your audience if you have the time to cater to them.
There are many e-commerce integrations on the app, and the opportunity to showcase your expertise in your field. TikTok is also currently the most innovative in rolling out new tools for businesses so we will be closely watching this year and in the future to see what they develop next.
Still don’t know which social media platform you should be on for your business?
Don’t sweat it! You can book a free no-obligation consultation with us at 3SIXTY Marketing Solutions to go over your options for your social media strategy. More and more audiences are turning to social media to increase their reach, sales, and ROI. Getting higher conversion rates and revenue is an objective for all businesses, and if we’re being real, social media platforms are where people spend their time these days. As a business, you have to be where your customers are if you are going to get noticed. If it’s time to sit down and create content for your company’s social media page but, you don’t have the time, or you’re not even sure where to begin, let’s talk. We can do it all for you, coach you through it, or give you and your team the training you need to make a splash for the right reasons online! Just give us a call at 705-242-8964 or 647-250-1494. We can’t wait to get you started.
Sources: Statista, SmartInsight
