In today's world where you have unlimited options, you might get confused about what is right for you and which platform might become profitable. We have heard of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and more. There are so many platforms and it's normal for an individual or a business to get confused about what would be the right platform for them.
Each platform has its particular set of users with their quirks as to how they interact with content. Here are a few points which either you or your business should pay attention to while choosing an ideal social media platform for marketing.
1. Why Would You Need an Online Presence?
It can be for personal branding or for businesses to increase reach and stay connected with their customers. While promoting a business we need to be mindful of the nature of its business. If it's a B2C business then the right platform for marketing and promotions would be Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. However, if it's a B2B business then LinkedIn is the best platform for marketing and promotions to the right set of audiences.
2. Define Your Objective in Detail
The goal can be to increase brand awareness, generate leads, promote webinars, increase video views, and many more. Defining your objective in detail will help you shortlist a few platforms among the rest.
3. Look for Your Target Audience
You need to find out where your target audience would be more active. Once you know the platform it becomes easier for you to work on the content and keep your audience engaged. It is more likely for audiences to follow brands that have an online presence on their preferred platform.
4. Type of Content
You need to decide on what type of content you would be promoting on these platforms. The various types can be simple text, images, short video format, long video formats, case studies, and more. Once you have decided on the type of content, the list of platforms becomes easier to choose.
5. Know About Your Competition
You need to know the digital presence of your competitors as this will also help you in selecting the right social platform for you or your business. Keep a check on the type of content that your competitors post and check the engagement rates for each type of post.
6. Check for User Base on Each Platform
The total user base count can also help in deciding which platform you should invest in. Here are active user counts for popular platforms:
- Facebook — 2.4 billion users
- YouTube — 2 billion users
- WhatsApp — 2 billion users
- Instagram — 1 billion users
- TikTok — 800 million users
- Snapchat — 398 million users
- Twitter — 386 million users
7. Check for Tools to Help with Integration
You need to check for tools that will help you manage multiple platforms from one place. This will save time and help you check performances across platforms in the same place. Tools can also help with the automation and scheduling of posts. A few tools worth exploring are Hootsuite and Publer.