SOCIAL MEDIA – Which Are the Best Choices for Your Business?

Posted on March 31, 2021April 9, 2021 by marketing

Choosing the Best Social Media Channels for Your Business

Social media has become a key component of digital marketing. According to recent research, two-thirds of brand marketers are launching new social media programs, while another one in five have programs in development.
Facebook remains the predominant social network — in terms of consumer use and brand marketing. However, the number of social networks is growingly massively. Digital marketers no longer have the luxury of choosing one social network over another. Today, there has to be a well-managed presence on all relevant social channels.
How do you know which social networks are relevant for your brands and will provide the most return on investment? As consumers explore different social media channels, it’s imperative that marketers understand shifting preferences. For example, which social network engages millennials? Baby boomers? There is no longer a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
In terms of number of users, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram are the four leading social networks. Each of these networks attracts a distinct audience and provides a level of engagement. Although Facebook’s growth may be slowing, it still boasts the largest audience in the world with 1.5 billion monthly active users who are highly engaged; 70% log on to the network daily and almost half log on several times a day. Two-thirds of men are Facebook users, compared to 77% of women, according to Pew Research Center. More than 80% of adults who use Facebook are between 18–29 years of age. Nearly half of online adults who are 65 and older use Facebook. More than three-quarters of online adults who are Facebook users make $75,000 or more annually; 72% of online adults who are Facebook users have a college education. Geographically, Facebook users live in all types of locations: 74% of online urban dwellers use Facebook, 72% suburban and 67% rural.
Twitter reached 316 million monthly active users in June 2015, and the majority of them — 80% — are mobile users. Twitter’s audience skews younger, as 32% of online adults who use Twitter are between the ages of 18 and 29 compared to just 13% of online adults who are 50–64 years old. More men than women use Twitter — 25% versus 21%.
Instagram now has 400 million users and the percentage of online adults who use Instagram has doubled in three years. Users are highly engaged, with 59% visiting the site daily, with a higher appeal to women than men.
LinkedIn’s 380 million users tend to be older, employed, and college graduates. About one in five LinkedIn users visit the site every day. Nearly half of online adults who are college graduates are LinkedIn users. LinkedIn is the only one of the four leading social networks in which usage rates are higher among 30–49 year olds than among 18–29 year olds. LinkedIn attracts slightly more men than women.
Pinterest has 100 million users and engagement is rising. More than one quarter of Pinterest users visit the site daily. About one third of online adults are Pinterest users, according to Pew Research Center — a number that has doubled since 2012. Pinterest attracts more women than men.
Snapchat reaches more than 60% of U.S. smartphone users who are 13–34 years old. In total, the social network has nearly 100 million daily active users.
Video-sharing network YouTube has one billion users and reaches 81% of Internet users in the U.S. YouTube draws an equal number of men and women, although men spend 44% more time on the network each month. YouTube’s audience skews young from teenagers through those in their early 40s.
Google+ has 300 million daily active users and has reached 2.2 billion user profiles. Engagement is low, however, as only 9% of users have posted content.
Social media marketing can improve brand awareness, generate website traffic, drive brand engagement or increase conversions. Understanding which social network — or networks — is right for your brand calls for a comprehensive assessment of your organization’s goals, audience, content, and budget. Use the following questions and information as a guideline to determine your answers:
1. If your brand is new to social media or you need to differentiate it from competitors, some part of your investment should aim to grow brand awareness. Look at social channels that have high levels of social sharing, so your brand will benefit from mentions, likes, followers, app downloads or retweets.
2. If generating more website traffic is your goal, analyze where your website visitors come from. How long do visitors stay on your site? Do they read your content and become customers? A detailed analysis can help you determine not only which social networks are sending you traffic, but which ones are sending you valuable traffic.
Social media marketing has become a necessity for business growth and customer engagement. However, the social media landscape continues to evolve and change dramatically. It is critically important to be knowledgeable before you jump in head first into the world of social media.

Is Social Media Marketing Right for You?

Posted on February 8, 2021April 6, 2021 by marketing

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat – with so many social networks, who can keep up? The list of social media networks keeps growing, but with only 24 hours in a day, how do you know if social media marketing is worth your time?

Let’s start at the beginning.

Questions to ask yourself about social media marketing

What do you want social media to do for you? Are you looking to grow your audience? Maybe you want to increase engagement, generate new leads, or even provide customer service. Social media is unlike any other form of marketing, so before beginning you’ll want to decide if social media can market your message better than email, paid advertising, or any other form of marketing.
Who do you want to target? Are you trying to target stay at home moms, millennials, or kids? How about working professionals or seniors? Your answer will determine which social media network is right for you.
Which network do you want to focus on? The seven social networks mentioned above are just the beginning – there are more! Do you want to try to be active on every platform, or focus on a narrower audience?
Do you want to spend money? Organic social media growth is wonderful – if you have time for it. Organic growth tends to be slow, but you can make your life easier by paying someone to do it for you or accelerate your growth by paying for social media advertising.
Do you have time? This is the biggie. Many businesses start marketing on social media with the best intentions, but realize it soon takes up the majority of their day. You have to decide if you have the time to dedicate to it, and if not, decide if you’d like to pay someone to handle the responsibility for you.

The payoff

While it seems like a lot of work (and it is!) the potential payoff is huge. Social media marketing can lead to many benefits including building your brand, increasing your website traffic, boosting your website ranking, increasing sales, lowering your marketing cost and increasing your lead generation.

Regardless of the amount of work, you probably want to be on social media. If you need help, contact us – were here for you 24/7.

What Brands Don’t Get About Snapchat

Posted on February 7, 2021April 6, 2021 by marketing

Remember the good old days of social media, when all content was displayed equally without pesky algorithms ruining the fun? Snapchat brings that back. There’s no newsfeed and no algorithm, just people choosing who they want to follow.

Yet, despite giving brands an equal chance to grow on this platform, it’s individual influencers and celebrities who are flourishing. What are brands missing?

It’s about keeping it real

That polished brand voice you use? Ditch it.

Like all social media, Snapchat is about keeping it authentic and forming a personal connection. It’s unedited and raw, creating a form of social intimacy that is more prevalent than on other social platforms thanks to the lack of algorithm filtering.

How can you make your brand seem personal?

Be authentic. Leave the formalities to traditional media – on Snapchat, engage.
Have a conversation. Don’t broadcast when you can create a dialogue instead.
Being vulnerable is okay. If you make a mistake, own it. You’d be surprised that this can actually help you because it makes your brand more human.

Don’t create your own content

“What?” I hear you say. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered – or more appropriately, your viewers do.

Celebrate your brand’s fans, followers, and anyone who watches what you post by sharing their content. Thank them in your original uploads, and don’t forget to highlight the people who make your brand successful: your employees. Not only will this humanize you, but it takes advantage of human nature’s preference for humility and sharing the spotlight.

Is Snapchat really that easy?

Yes. Before posting anything, ask yourself: Can you relate to it? Would you want to watch it and engage it, and does it feel like something you want to respond to? You are a brand but the people interacting with you have simple needs that must be met if you want to be invited into their lives. They need to relate and connect with you. Keep it simple, keep it human, and acknowledge that even though you’re a brand, you can still be vulnerable and have fun.

Do you have tips for using Snapchat? Respond with them to gregmaka@24-7marketing.net and you may be featured in the next blog post!