Top 5 Social Media Platforms for Business
Social media is a great tool for business. It’s an inexpensive way to reach an enormous number of people. The best part of social media may be one you haven’t considered. The social media platforms you use will tell your customers a lot about your brand. That’s why it’s important to consider a few things when creating a social media strategy.
Of course, you’d want to know how many people subscribe to the platform. But you’ll also want to know how ads are presented, how easy or difficult it is for customers to click through to your website, and the most eye-catching way to present your information on each platform.
Below are the top five social media platforms for business that could take your business to the next level:
1. Google Business Profile
This site may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of social media, but it’s one of the most-used and most successful social platforms for business. Google’s profiles localize the content most customers are looking for location, official website, and reviews.
As a business owner, once you’ve created and verified your account, you can control what people see when they search. Around 83 percent of internet users use Google search, so there’s a lot of data on the platform’s success in helping businesses increase visibility.
When someone Googles your name or product, a Google Business Profile can be a huge help to that customer. That’s why well-organized, up-to-date profiles are vastly superior to simple website returns. A Google Business Profile connects all of your business information to reviews from around the web. These ratings provide legitimacy and let new customers feel a sense of trust in your brand. That trust helps urge customers to action.
A Google Business Profile is 70 percent more likely to attract a visitor to your company’s location, directs seven times more traffic to your website, and increases the likelihood of a sale by 50 percent. It’s one of the best social media platforms for business anywhere on the web.
2. Facebook
With around 2.9 billion monthly users, Facebook is the most ubiquitous social media platform out there. That ubiquity has its upsides and downsides. Facebook is a great tool for a lot of businesses—but it needs to be the right fit. The businesses most likely to succeed on Facebook are retail, consumer goods, and gaming. That’s in large part due to Facebook’s Marketplace integration.
If you’re a Marketplace user, customers don’t need to click through to your website to make a purchase. That’s a great feature for a lot of small businesses and startups.
The counter-intuitive downside of Facebook is its popularity. With so many active users worldwide, there are millions of businesses competing for eyes. Your brand needs to stand out and that requires real work and attention to detail. Savvy Facebook users will release regular live videos, create and join groups related to their industry, and work hard to meet the standards that Facebook’s algorithm prioritizes. That means a lot of activity, several times a day. With so much to keep track of, a social media strategy is key.
3. YouTube
YouTube boasts around 2.7 billion active users. A billion hours of videos are watched on the platform each day—that’s why YouTube is one of the best social media platforms for marketing.
YouTube gives businesses two ways to reach their customers. You can upload videos, get subscribers, and host a channel of updates about your product. People can also simply place ads on YouTube, much like any traditional television or radio ad campaign.
The opportunities for success on YouTube are vast, so it’s a great platform for a diverse group of industries. Importantly, the sheer volume of content hosted by YouTube means that you’ll want to create quality video content and engage with an expert on search engine optimization (SEO) before investing any significant time on the platform. A marketing expert can help you reach more people and make sure that your content looks professional and stands out.
4. WhatsApp
If you’ve used email strategies for marketing in the past, WhatsApp might be perfect for you. It’s the most widely used messaging platform in more than 180 countries. About 20 percent of marketing emails are opened by customers. WhatsApp uses SMS messaging which has a 99 percent open rate.
WhatsApp is also great for a lot of businesses because they provide two tiers of service—one for small businesses and one for larger enterprises. WhatsApp lets you communicate directly with your customers. If your business has a physical location, WhatsApp will work with QR codes to let your customers use coupons, learn about promotions, or even pay online. WhatsApp Business has around 2 billion users and the services it provides are customizable. That makes WhatsApp one of the best entry points for business owners looking to expand their social media strategies.
5. Instagram
With 2 billion users, Instagram is a favorite of huge companies, small businesses, and influencers of all stripes. Its image-based content is a great fit for consumer goods, wellness, fashion, make-up—anything you can think of that can draw the eye with a well-composed photo or short video. If running a YouTube channel doesn’t seem like a great fit, the simplicity and brevity of Instagram might work for you.
On Insta, businesses can create verified accounts with sections for business hours, reviews, and a link to their website. You can also set up an Instagram shop, which acts like a catalog that customers can order directly from. But because Instagram is such a visually oriented medium, quality really matters. Meaningful content, regular posting, and professional-looking photographs are musts.
These are only a few of the ways that businesses can reach out to their customers. If you are thinking about expanding your social media presence, consult with experts in the field. InnoVision can help you create a digital marketing strategy that fits exactly what you need. They also have the experience to know which social media platforms will work best for you and your product. Don’t miss out on these relatively low-cost ways to scale your business.
