One of the questions we get a lot is "what social media platforms should I be on?" The answer is, "well, it depends". It depends on your goals, your audience, your budget, your time spend available, and your general market. And while it's a good idea to have the main social media channels claimed in your business name, purely as a branding exercise, usage of them is another matter.
Social Media Channels
There are many different social media platforms (or channels, however you'd like to refer to them) available and new ones pop up regularly. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Tiktok are the main ones which are good for sales or driving traffic to your website.
How do you choose which social media platforms to use?
Who is your audience?
You want to choose a social media platform which is used by your audience, so you have to know your audience first. There's no point being on Tiktok if your audience isn't the demographic using that platform. Know your audience, find which social media channel they use, and prioritise that for your business.
Are you selling a product?
There are some social media platforms which allow commerce, so this may also factor in your decision making. Facebook and instagram allow you to tag products in your posts, and then will send customers to your website to complete the transaction. This places these channels as a search engine of sorts - as people discover and search for things via the platform before google. It is an interesting dynamic, and one to be aware of.
Do I need to be on every social media platform?
NO! While having your business name claimed on each social media platform is a good idea from a branding and continuity perspective; it isn't necessary to be active on every channel. This also ensures that if you choose to pursue this channel in the future, you have already created the account in your name.
Budgeting for social media platforms management
There are 3 levels of social media management. The first is just advice - where we give you some best practice tips. The second is part of our content packages, where we create content and schedule it onto your social channels. The third is about growth and combines content with engagement. This last option is the most expensive because it involves active engagement on your social platforms before and after you post content. This is often the point where you might choose to explore the option of a marketing agency.
