Which Social Media Platforms Are Right For Your Business?

A common misconception many business owners have is believing they should be on every social media platform for maximum reach. Whilst experimenting with platforms is encouraged, not every single one is right for your business. Selecting the social media platforms for your business depends on your industry, target audience, and marketing goals. Here is a brief overview of some of the most popular social media platforms and their characteristics:

Facebook

With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a great platform for businesses of all sizes to connect with their audience, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to their websites. It has a variety of advertising options and targeting capabilities to reach specific audiences.

Some facts to consider:

• As of January 2023, it was found that men between the ages of 25 and 34 years made up Facebook largest audience, accounting for 17.6 percent of global users.

• UK users spend an average of 42 minutes per day on the platform.

• Facebook.com is the third-most-visited website in the world.

• Facebook is a great platform for businesses wanting to target a broad audience and build a community.

Instagram

With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram is a highly visual platform that is ideal for businesses that want to showcase their products and services through photos and videos. Like Facebook, it has a variety of advertising options to reach specific audiences.

Some facts to consider:

• Instagram’s audience is 52.2% male and 47.8% female, which is nearly an even split.

• Users spend an average of 11 hours per month Instagram.

• The largest share of Instagram users was the 25-34 age group, comprising 30.1% of all UK users. 18–24-year-olds were next with 26.1% of the user share.

It is important to remember Instagram is a platform that holds aesthetics in high regard, so works better with businesses showcasing something that can be aesthetically pleasing.

Twitter

Twitter is a fast-paced platform that is ideal for businesses that want to share news and updates in real-time. It is also a great platform for engaging with customers and creating a community through conversations.

Some facts to consider:

• 62.9% of Twitter users are male.

• Twitter is the most popular social platform for current news, with 61.2% of people saying Twitter is where they go to stay up to date with news and events.

• The average time UK adult users spent on Twitter was around 4 minutes per day.

Something to consider about Twitter is that it is extremely time sensitive and requires a lot of time spent on the platform to have successful marketing. Being involved in time sensitive conversations is essential, with the average post being shown on the feed for around 2 hours.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform with over 740 million users. It is ideal for B2B businesses, as it allows them to connect with other professionals and businesses in their industry. It is primarily used for B2B marketing and networking, making it ideal for businesses in the technology, finance and consulting industries.

Some facts to consider:

• 57.2% of LinkedIn users identify as men, with 42.8% identifying as women

• Almost 60% of LinkedIn’s users are between 25 and 34 years old

• LinkedIn Marketing also brings 2x higher engagement rates

LinkedIn is a great place to build your personal brand and community as a business owner. This can then be directed to a business page through connection invites.

Tiktok

Tiktok is a video-sharing platform that has grown in popularity over recent years, particularly among younger demographics. It is suitable for businesses wanting to showcase their products and services through short form video.

Some facts to consider:

• UK users spend the most time on Tiktok, with an average of 27.3 hours per month.

• TikTok is the most engaging of all social media apps, with an average user session of 10.85 minutes.

• Females account for 66.25% of all TikTok users in the UK, as opposed to only 33.75% males.

Tiktok is a relatively demanding platform, which is something to consider before beginning your marketing journey on there. It is recommended to post at least once per day if not twice.

Ultimately, the best social media platform for your business will depend on your specific needs and goals. It’s important to research your target audience and consider which platforms they’re most active on, as well as which platforms align with your brand’s messaging and tone.

We hope this helped you in your social media journey!

Need more help with your social strategy? Contact us today or call 01924 367 105

REFERENCES:

Statista, Hubspot