In a previous blog post, we published part one of this series about social media for business marketing. In the first segment, we discussed a little about the history of social media marketing and how online marketing platforms have grown over time. In this second segment of the social media marketing series, we will look at the various social media platforms (not all of them for sure) that are the most commonly used by businesses the world over.
Top Social Media Platforms for Business Users
As previously noted, if you are new to social media marketing, the entire idea can be pretty daunting. Which platform do you choose? What are your campaign goals? How do you analyze and utilize your campaign statistics to improve reach and penetration? Yes, you can take the time to learn about and master all of these vital things, but you need to run your business as well.
For this reason, businesses often turn to social media management professionals such as Bianca Frank Design in Anchorage, Alaska, for their social media needs. Putting your campaign in the hands of a seasoned professional allows you to focus on growing your business and fulfilling customer service needs.
There are many social media platforms out there and more seem to appear all the time. So, which one is right for your business? How do you decide? How do you make sure you are using the platform where your customer base is most likely to be? How do you determine which platform will allow you to post the content you are most interested in sharing? Below we have discussed the top social media platforms most commonly used by businesses today. We have also mentioned a few up-and-coming ones that are gaining popularity. Remember, you don’t have to be on every social media site for your campaign to be successful. The team at Bianca Frank in Anchorage can help you determine the best place or places for your business.
1. Facebook
Virtually anyone who spends any amount of time online has heard of and likely used Facebook. Although not everyone uses it for business purposes, it is an excellent place for businesses to get their brand in front of the eyes of thousands of people each month.
Facebook has over 2.2 billion monthly active users and is the biggest social media site out there. To put this in context, the number of people who use Facebook each month equates to approximately one-third of the population of the world. In addition, over 65 million businesses have, use, and monitor Facebook pages.
2.YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing platform where users can watch over one billion hours of videos each day. Videos range from educational and how-to videos to music and funny cats. Businesses and private advertisers will generally create a YouTube channel for their brand where they can upload videos for their subscribers to view, like, comment on, and share.
YouTube is the second most prominent social media site (having 1.9 billion monthly active users). It is also owned by Google and is often considered its search engine where people go to look for videos and coverage about virtually anything.
Similar to Facebook, you can also advertise on YouTube to increase your reach on YouTube.
3. Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social media app that allows users to share content, including photos, videos, stories, and live videos. As a business, you can have a business profile on Instagram, which will provide you with analytics regarding your profile and posts. It will also offer you the ability to schedule Instagram posts on a regular schedule. Business profiles on Instagram are free, which is another positive feature of utilizing Instagram for your business branding.
4. Twitter
Twitter is a social media site that has grown significantly in popularity in recent years. Posts on Twitter trend towards news, entertainment, sports, and politics, among other things.
What sets Twitter apart from other social media sites is its strong emphasis on real-time (happening right now) information. Another unique and sometimes challenging feature of Twitter is it only allows 280 characters per post. This means you have limited text with which to catch your viewer’s attention.
5. LinkedIn
Many people think of LinkedIn as a resume-sharing and job search site. Over time, LinkedIn has evolved into a social media site for professionals where industry experts (including business owners) can network, build their brands, and share content. It has also become a place where businesses can attract talent to their company and establish their position as an authority in their industry.
LinkedIn also offers advertising opportunities that allow you to boost your content and send personalized ads to other LinkedIn user inboxes.
6. Pinterest
Pinterest is the place online where people go for inspiration or to find new things. Pinterest is different than most social media sites, and engagement is not necessarily the focus. People go to Pinterest to find patterns, and items, and learn about new products. Promoting your brand on Pinterest allows you the opportunity to shape potential customers’ buying decisions and to create a business presence on a platform where there is less business saturation.
7. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is used throughout most of the world. Originally used as a means for people to communicate with family and friends, WhatsApp has gradually grown into a place where people can communicate with businesses as well. WhatsApp has been altering its business platform to allow businesses to create a specific business profile. This would allow business users of the app to provide customer support and share updates with customers about purchases.
8. Messenger
Messenger used to be integrated into the Facebook App, and one could not utilize the app without being logged onto Facebook. Several years ago (2011), this changed, and Messenger was made a standalone app with expanded and enhanced features. Businesses that use Messenger to communicate with customers can now advertise, create chats, send newsletters, and do a variety of other things through Messenger.
If all of these options sound confusing and you aren’t sure where to start, that is OK. Bianca Frank Design in Anchorage, Alaska, has vast experience with social media for business management and knows the right questions to ask about your business to ensure your social media presence is reaching all the right people.
As a business owner, you spend hours each day (and some nights too) working to maintain product supply, enhance customer service, and, depending on the size of your company, work to achieve employee satisfaction. All of these daily operating requirements likely mean you do not have time to worry about timing social media posts and creating content.
You may not understand or want to understand how to read analytics reports and use that data to determine if your posts are reaching and penetrating the right markets. Bianca Frank Design in Anchorage Alaska has provided social media management services for many companies, small and large, who want to enhance their brand recognition through a presence on social media.
At Bianca Frank, we have social media management packages available through which we can offer varying levels of service for your business and your brand. You can be involved with your campaign as little or as much as you want. If you are ready to blast awareness about your brand on social media and are looking for a professional to ensure a smooth process, contact Bianca Frank Design today.