Of all the online opportunities for business, social media has risen up as a veritable beast. A savvy business operator will learn to take advantage of these capabilities, and harness all that power to work for them. Here are some of the most popular sites today, and some tips on how to make them work for you.
Boasting over 2.2 billion monthly users, Facebook is still the reigning king of social media. Business pages are free, easy to customize and include analytical insights to help target specific clients and build a brand. Add the fact that they conveniently utilize multiple content formats such as text, images, video and live broadcasts, and you’ve got a full spectrum of opportunities for a business venture of any size.
Another mainstay in the social media arena, Instagram connects to around a billion users every month in a wide variety of demographics. A business profile is free and easy to configure, ready to share photos, videos and text promoting your products and building your brand. Excellent exposure to a wide variety of users, with built-in metrics and insights to track the performance of every post.
YouTube
A business YouTube channel provides the perfect resource for uploading sales promotions, informational clips, tutorials and market expertise videos to reach potential clients, increase site traffic and draw in new customers. With more than 2 billion monthly users, YouTube is a recommended weapon in any business arsenal.
With a focus on work and business, LinkedIn is a staple among business operators. With around 660 million monthly users who are mostly in professional categories, LinkedIn is a great tool for building a business network and connecting with others in any particular field. Industry groups help create connections and draw endorsements, elevating your business and reaching potential clients.
Another stalwart player in social media for business, Twitter claims to be the number one platform for discovery with almost 80% of users reaching to learn what is new and now. With more than 300 million monthly users, that’s an online animal with a really big bite. The Twitter audience is large, diverse, and covers a full range of demographics. The outreach possibilities are huge for any type of enterprise or campaign.
TikTok
A relative newcomer to the social media arena, TikTok has recently taken off in all markets and currently boasts more than 500 million monthly viewers. More than a third of TikTok users are teens, opening a huge promotional channel for businesses reaching out to the youth market. No other platform can offer such a targeted demographic, and open opportunities to connect with an active youth culture.
Snapchat
Another platform with unique and powerful business potential, Snapchat connects more than 200 million monthly users who are primarily in the Millennial and Generation Z age groups. The platform holds an unusual attraction to the youth market – more than one-third of their userbase does not use any other platform – presenting itself as a field unreached by any other social media service. Brand awareness, product marketing, and service promotions to the young age bracket can boost any business that tenders to that market.
Although primarily a niche service, Pinterest promotes business interest through posting products, services or other pertinent industry information regarding a specific enterprise. By careful use of keywords and phrases, user searches can easily locate and connect with a business and its offerings. A Pinterest presence can reach markets that are less familiar with other platforms, and bring your products to the forefront. Unlike other platform posts that disappear quickly after posting, Pinterest pins remain active for the long term, continuing to reach customers and promote your brand.