Blogtrepreneur
By now I’m sure you’re all aware that social media is essential for running and maintaining a business. However, not every social media outlet is the right fit for a company. Knowing which platforms are more beneficial for you and your business will make your time online much easier. Here are the best and worst social media platforms for business:
On Its Way Out…
For quite a while Snapchat seemed to be one of the best ways to get your business out there. Snapchat included stories into their platform in October of 2013. This allowed different companies to put up videos for their products/services on Snapchat’s main viewing page. Not only that, but it allowed advertisements to be displayed in between personal story viewing. However, in recent years Instagram has been taking over; Like Snapchat they have added stories, filters and direct messaging to their platform. Now more than ever with the creation of Instagram TV, Instagram has begun to completely overpower Snapchat. It seems that in the near future Snapchat will disappear behind the powerhouse platform, Instagram.
Playing It Safe
Facebook is definitely the safest choice when it comes to online marketing. It is the easiest way to navigate and to ensure your company has the highest reach online. With business options and analytical data, Facebook is one of the best and most efficient options for your business. Although there has been a lot of negative things being said about the platform in the news, specifically about their data collecting, Facebook is still highly recommended for any business owner.
Use with Caution
Twitter is one of those platforms that can be either very helpful for your business or very harmful depending on how you use it. Twitter is the first to know about every major movement, meme or trend going on around the web. It consists of mostly millennials, usually the age range is from 18-29, so it is very important that if you use this platform that you keep up to date with everything that is happening online. One insensitive joke, or one bit of false information could ruin your reputation on Twitter for a long time. That being said, it’s also a great way to stay in touch with your customers and create personal connections with them, as well as market your business; just be mindful of what you post.
Well…Duh!
If you are a business owner in the social media realm, LinkedIn is a must! It allows you to upload your resume, and help you meet new contacts. It also allows you to interact with individuals in the same field as you, and those who know you can rate your skills on your profile. This platform is one of the easiest ways to get your business and yourself out there and relevant online. The more people you are connected to on LinkedIn the better.
Not Necessary
Tumblr might be a bit unfamiliar to the majority of you and that’s for a reason. Tumblr is a blogging website, and it caters to teens and millennials. Like other platforms Tumblr allows you to advertise and even interact with potential customers. However, since it’s geared more towards a younger generation, one that spends the majority of their time on the site either blogging or making memes, it’s probably a lost cause. Feel free to make a Tumblr page, but it’s not really necessary for your business.
Girls Only!
If your main target audience is women, then you absolutely need Pinterest. Ask any woman right now what they want their dream wedding to look like, and it’s almost guaranteed that they will pull up their Pinterest account and show you. It’s a coalmine for the retail, travel, fashion, e-commerce, arts and crafts, and beauty industries. With 45% of their members being women if you specialize in any of these subjects then you definitely have to be on this platform. If your company does not work with any of these however, then feel free to skip Pinterest. There are other sites more suited for you.
Only If You Want to Be Successful
Instagram has over 500 million users, and about 59% of those users check the app every single day; so if you want the most coverage for advertising this platform is definitely a solid time investment. Instagram has just recently started stories and Instagram TV which will make it easier to engage as well as market your product/service. The platform can also be used as a connection tool with customers and create ample opportunities to have ambassador programs (or influencers) as well as worldwide promotions. This makes it one of the most important platforms out there right now, and definitely a must for any business owner. If you want to learn more about editing for Instagram check out this blog for the app Instasize
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Andrea Spila è traduttore e web writer. Prima di laurearsi in filosofia e di ottenere un dottorato in pedagogia sperimentale, ha insegnato l'inglese nelle scuole materne ed elementari. Ha lavorato anche come interprete, in particolare per scrittori e artisti, tra i quali spiccano Rebecca Solnit e Ken Loach. Nel 1999 ha fondato Traduttori per la Pace, un'associazione di volontari che offrono le proprie competenze alle organizzazioni della società civile impegnate nella difesa dei diritti umani e dell'ambiente.
Oltre a scrivere, Andrea ama cantare, arrampicare e andare in canoa.