Joining The Social Media World
We get it. Taking your business from the real world to the social media world is overwhelming at first. There are so many social media platforms to choose from. It feels like new ones appear every day. But, contrary to popular belief, your business doesn’t need to be on every platform to have a great online presence.
It’s important to note that not all social media platforms are created equal – meaning, not every platform is going to help grow your brand and reach your target audience.
Before joining a well-known social platform, keep these things in mind:
- The different purposes of each platform
- Where your customers are
- Where your competitors are
- How they communicate online
- Your business niche
By following these steps, you can filter out certain social media platforms. Why use platforms that aren’t vital for growing your brand? Remember, it’s better to post great content that gets engagement on a couple of platforms, rather than posting mediocre content across many platforms. Quality over quantity!
Which platform is your target audience using?
The first step when picking a platform is identifying where your target audience lives online. Is it scrolling through TikTok? Are they looking for aesthetically pleasing Instagram feeds to help aid their purchasing decisions?
Identifying your target audience’s age is one quick way to determine which social media platforms they’re on. For example, if your target consumers are 40+ years old, your brand probably doesn’t need to prioritize joining TikTok. Facebook makes more sense, in this case, to invest your time and energy in.
What are your competitors doing?
You and your competitors are targeting the same audience. An easy way to pick appropriate social media platforms for your business is to research which platforms your competitors are using. From there, see what content competitors are posting and which trends they’ve participated in.
What works for one company, may not work for the other. So, don’t be afraid to try new things and think outside the box when creating content for your brand – but make sure to always keep your target demo in mind.
How does your audience communicate?
Your audience needs to know where and how they can reach you! Social media platforms are created to improve communication methods. Therefore, you should use platforms to communicate with your audience directly. For example, if a customer asks a question in your Instagram post’s comment section, just reply to them there! This is a great way to quickly and effectively respond to concerns. Also, directly responding helps humanize your brand and build a relationship with your audience.
What’s Next?
Now that you’ve chosen the right social media platforms for your business to join, you must effectively manage these accounts by scheduling content, defining goals, following branding guidelines, choosing posts to boost, and more.
Need some help? We got you. Check out some of the social media work we’ve created for our clients to help them achieve their goals:
PVD Fest Socials
RIC Socials
Seasons Socials Influencer