August is full of new beginnings. School is starting, fall is knocking at our door, and it is the perfect time to begin again with your social media strategy. In this second installment of Back to Social Media Basics, we will analyze the benefits of each social media channel and help you determine which is the best fit for your business.
Social media is a key asset to the success of your business in today’s market. It gives your consumers an insight into your brand story, directs them to your website, and it is just a fun piece of marketing. Whether your business has been using social media for a while or is looking to start, the art of choosing a social media channel is not as difficult as it seems.
Today, there are 6 common social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube. Whether you use one, all or none at all. Here are some tips to help you best understand the benefits of each platform.
Facebook – We consider this to be a powerhouse of social media marketing. Facebook has the capabilities to get your organic content off the ground and also advertise with targeting specific groups. It is a platform that reaches multiple demographics and has capabilities for images, video and some other add ons such as polls, quizzes, and directions. If your business doesn’t have any social media, Facebook is the best place to start.
Twitter – A leader in conversation. Twitter gives you the ability to give quick updates, start conversations and share opinions with other viewers. It also gives you the ability to see what other people are saying about your business with hashtags and their discovery feature. If your business is looking to give quick updates about events, closures, sports or other rapid posting situations, Twitter is the place for you.
Instagram – A platform that specializes in visuals. It has a variety of editing capabilities to help you create gorgeous pictures without a graphic design/photography degree. However, the best part about this platform is the stories feature because it provides separation from a more standard profile page. Stories give your followers an inside look into the happenings of your business, plus they only last for 24-hours. You can save stories and use them in highlights as well to give your viewers a longer time to see certain stories.
LinkedIn – If you want to connect with your industry, current employees and potential new hires, this is the site for you. LinkedIn has a wealth of industry knowledge by way of articles, but they also allow you to post job opportunities and connect with other industry leaders.
Pinterest – It is considered to be a crafters dream and a place where people can go to create their “dream” lives. However, it is also a great place to showcase products, especially within the realm of cooking, fashion and home decor. You can showcase pins of your products and attach direct links to where “pinners” can go to purchase these items. They also have advertising capabilities but on a much smaller scale.
YouTube – If your company enjoys vlogging, this is the platform for you. There is no limit to the length of the video you upload, and it resonates greatly with Generation Z, who love videos abound. If you have never created videos before, check out these tips from one of our past blog posts.
Love what you are reading but still do not know which channel is best for your business? Send up the white flag for Fly Pages to help you decipher the social media world.