We have been talking a lot about the importance of social media for a small business owner lately. With topics ranging from How Does Social Media Help My SEO to Tips for Planning Your Social Media Campaign and more, there is so much you can do with social media to increase your visibility and grow your business.
With that said, just jumping into the mix without knowing your market and their likes will not only be a hindrance, but can also add a lot of extra work to your business.
Start by making sure you know who your target market is and analyze the data. You want to know age, gender, buying habits, and interest as much as possible so you can find the right channel for social media promotions. Then, take some time with due diligence to find the right social media channel where you can find your target market demographics and let your voice be heard.
Facebook – Largely the most common and popular platform among adults. Not only do billions of people have personal pages, but businesses of all kinds have business pages that are reaching those in their target market. You have the ability to boost your page with ads that are directed to your demographics and locale too.
Twitter – This 140 character limit messaging channel is popular among young adults and also older adults that are looking for targeted, timely and specific information. Perfect channel for sharing tips and articles within your expertise and interest. You can also add visual interest with your messages, if desired, for added engagement.
LinkedIn – This social media channel is still highly focused in the B2B arena, and depending on your type of business, may be a perfect place for articles and information surrounding your business expertise. Local professionals and business owners love using LinkedIn and it is a great platform for networking with others through community groups and more.
Pinterest – A favorite site for women of all ages and many men too, Pinterest is an image based sharing channel that can drive traffic to your business, if your market analysis dictates to women with purchasing power. Top quality images that are linked to your website or specific landing page is what is needed for this social media site. Engagement is driven by keywords, interest, and images, not necessarily the number of followers.
Instagram –The second image driven site that offers a mix of men and women users of all ages. This site is used through engagement using popular hashtags. The more the merrier here. There is only one active link and that is in your profile, so your image will want to speak to your followers to get them to click through. A very popular site however, and if used properly, can increase brand development, interest and traffic.
Now that you know a bit about each one, choosing the right platform for your social media involvement with your business does not mean all or nothing. Start with the one you are most familiar with, Facebook is usually the must have, and then add another site that fits with your demographics. You do not have to engage in all of them if it does not make sense for your business.
Start small, get really good at using your choices and make sure to track results! You can have great interaction, gain followers and customers, plus bring more results to your small business by using the right social media site for your individual business.