A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Right Social Network for Your Business

Social Media for Business Explained

There are a ton of social media platforms out there and it can be very overwhelming to try and determine which ones are the best investment of your time and money. At Red Egg Marketing we look at everything including demographics and target markets to choose the social media profiles that will get our clients the greatest exposure and best serve their customers’ needs. With this article we hope to shed some light on the social media dilemma for small businesses and help you to determine where you should spend time setting up and managing a company profile.

When trying to choose a platform, think about a couple details.

1. 
   Who is your customer? Look at your customer demographics and figure out what platform they use.
2. What industry are you in? Some industries have specific social networks.

Now let’s break down the networks to give you a better idea of what they do.

• Facebook – Most businesses should be using Facebook. They have the largest user base and have some of the best targeting options. Great for small business and large businesses alike.
• Twitter – Twitter is very popular but works better on a larger scale. If you are looking to reach a broad audience, Twitter is very helpful.
• Instagram – Instagram is kind of like Facebook & Twitter’s hipper, younger brother. Instagram is very heavy on visuals, reaches a broad audience and has a younger demographic. Instagram is great for businesses with tangible products or a cool brand.
• LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a professional networking site. Profiles on this site are based around one’s professional career. It’s great to add your business to the site but it works best when used as a personal networking tool as well.
• Google+ – Google+ has very few active users in comparison to other social media platforms. It’s user base is primarily tech people or people who don’t like Facebook. However, it offers lots of SEO benefits so I highly suggest posting on G+.
• Pinterest – Pinterest is perfect for businesses that depend on visual marketing. The majority of its users are women as well as people who like cooking and crafts. A great place to market towards brides to be.
• Foursquare – Foursquare is only relevant for physical locations. Users check-in with this program when they visit an establishment. Sometimes businesses offer rewards for the ‘Mayor,’ the person who visits the most. This is great for restaurants and other frequently patronized establishments.
• Houzz – Houzz is an app for remodeling. If you are in the trades or are an interior designer, Houzz is a good one to be involved in.
• Yelp – Yelp is very popular for restaurant goers and for service based businesses. Your business is probably on Yelp whether you put it there or not. Thus, keep an eye on your profile in case of any negative feedback. While good reviews on Yelp can bring in lots of business, bad reviews can hurt greatly. *Just a heads up, Yelp’s ‘review filter’ is quite terrible and it will be a total pain in your rear end as you get started.
• Snapchat – Businesses are still trying to figure out how to use Snapchat. It will probably be great for businesses with flash specials or that want to create an exclusive network.

These are just a handful of social media platforms you can use for your business. There are more but you should be able to get started with one of these. If you need any help choosing or managing the right platform for your business, please contact Red Egg Marketing.

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