The business landscape of late 2020 is an interesting time, as plenty of companies have just finished shifting all of their attention to the online business landscape. While things were slowly but surely going to a full online experience for most businesses, the process was expedited due to the recent pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis brought with it changes that often make it too challenging for a business relying on a physical establishment to succeed outside of supermarkets and medical clinics, which is why many have prioritized an online service with a social media agency.
With the shift to online products and services, the world of marketing is also experiencing a gradual change. Instead of print or traditional marketing, most companies — especially startups — are getting by with the use of digital marketing strategies alone. Most business owners are doing their best to make changes as soon as possible, as the holiday season is ongoing.
Digital marketing is undoubtedly at the forefront as the most effective way to market a business, and there are plenty of ways to utilize the Internet to boost brand recognition. With the help of a social media agency, it can be far easier to get a foothold. Here are the top 8 social media platforms for business.
1. Making use of Google’s advertising platform with YouTube
Anyone who enjoys watching videos of just about anything on the Internet will likely utilize Youtube to get the job done, as it is one of the most popular video platforms around. Even among the social media platforms on the list, YouTube is special as it has the extra advantage of being owned by Google. It means the business owner can make use of the search engine’s advertising platform on Youtube. The fact that the platform has over two billion monthly active users is reason enough to give it a try.
2. Pushing forward with B2B through LinkedIn
Unlike most of the social media channels presented, one of the primary advantages of LinkedIn is that it is a social media platform specifically for businesses. It is especially useful for companies that target consumers based on the information provided such as job titles, as Linkedin provides surprisingly accurate information for the roughly three hundred million monthly active users. It is also a great social media platform for companies that focus on a B2B model.
3. Online reputation management with Yelp
When it comes to social media platforms, it might seem a little strange to add Yelp to the list, but its importance in upholding the online reputation of businesses cannot be understated. The online visitors of Yelp are there to ensure that the company listed on the platform can provide a consistently positive experience. With the help of a social media agency, it is possible to significantly improve the odds of more positive reviews showing up on the online review platform. The business can also respond to negative reviews to let consumers know that they are willing to make changes.
4. Influencing the market with TikTok
A relatively young social media platform, TikTok makes use of short videos to entertain over five hundred million monthly active users — a surprising amount of people over such a short timeframe. That said, one of the only ways to make use of the platform at the moment would be through the many influencers in the app. It is still relatively young, but there is quite a lot of potential!
5. Advertising to the younger generation with Snapchat
Similar to TikTok, Snapchat focuses primarily on a younger target audience, as it makes use of photos and videos added directly to a user’s overall Snapchat story. The interesting thing is that snapchats sent to other users can only be viewed a single time. On the other hand, snapchats sent to a story are viewable for up to twenty-four hours. It is an effective social media channel for businesses aimed toward a younger audience.
6. Advertising to the creative industry with Pinterest
Pinterest is quite interesting as just about all of its content has to do with creative ventures, or artistic products. Companies that produce and distribute artistic products can make use of Pinterest to effectively market their products to a receptive audience. A social media agency can further improve a user’s chances.
7. The top of the totem pole with Instagram
One of the interesting things about Instagram is that it is owned by the next (and most popular) social media channel on the list. There are few things that have to be said about Instagram, as it is something that just about everyone has. It has plenty of different features that are popular in social media channels, and it is a good choice for businesses looking to build organic marketing through search engine optimization (SEO).
8. Facebook, the most reliable of the social media channels
Of all the social media platforms on the list, Facebook is undoubtedly one of the oldest, and the most versatile and reliable. While many of the other social media channels are growing and have their set of unique advantages, the reason why Facebook is such a popular choice for business is the fact that it is tried and tested. Standing the test of time, there is no need to worry about the platform falling under during a social media marketing campaign. Facebook is as solid as a rock, and it is one of the least likely to fall flat.
Aside from the eight featured above, there are still other social media channels to explore as a growing business. Fortunately, there is no need to tackle anything alone as the use of a Social Media Agency can help significantly improve the user’s chances without necessarily breaking the bank. That said, keep in mind that any negative PR or mistakes by representatives in any social media platform can have far-reaching consequences. It pays to err on the side of caution when it comes to social media, as a significant number of the Internet masses are paying attention. With the use of the social media channels on the list, a business can get ahead without issues.
