It’s summer!
Welcome to camp, social media camp.
There are several tents: We have
“Every Platform, Every Day” for those who are on all.the.things.
“One and Done” for those who pick one tried and true place to post.
and
“I Can’t Even” for those who have created accounts but never, ever post.
Which tent do you stay in?
Let me introduce a new tent for you. It’s called “The Perfect Platform”. Welcome
The Perfect Platform or two are unique to you and your content. A place where you can reach your audience in the most engaging way possible
Let’s discuss.
Industry Specific
Though it may not seem this way, each industry and demographic does have a primary platform that they interact with most. While there is crossover depending on the user, most industries gravitate toward one or maybe two platforms for content sharing.
LinkedIn is great for professionals. Government Contractors, Consultants, Coaches and other B2Bs will all do well to share their content on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is NOT the place for highlighting family stories, sharing holiday photos or pictures of your lunch.
Pinterest is a good home for bloggers, vloggers or those who share how-to, actionable content. If your primary audience is the WAHM or SAHM, teacher or DIYer. Pinterest may be for you.
Instagram is ideal for visual businesses. The not-so-little sister of Facebook is a great place for those sharing travel information, fashion advice, product content, real estate, coaching information and more.
Facebook is the almost the original. Ideal for the fun stuff, Facebook is a great hub for event-based companies, those who have a demographic of remote workers, coaches, B2B and product options. Facebook is also a great resource for searching. Having a basic Facebook business page allows a business to appear in search.
Twitter is for those who are brands and businesses that have the ability to engage regularly. Twitter is a real-time conversation type platform that works well if it is interacted with often.
YouTube is clearly for video creators. Brands and businesses that have embraced video creation can utilize YouTube for sharing and engagement.
A variety of other platforms do exist apart from these but for our purposes, those listed above are the best for business use.
Pick Your Platform
Choosing a platform or two to interact with does not have to be a one-shot-wonder.
Here are a few things you can do to find your ideal platform.
-Give yourself 30-60 days to discover and learn your options
-Research your business peers and competition to see where they’re finding success
-Create content specific to each platform
-Test, test and test again. Once you gather enough information you’ll make a decision that saves you time in the long run.
-Pick something you enjoy. As you’ll be the one creating the content and engaging with your audience, do it in a place that brings you joy instead of frustration.
-Be ready to pivot.
The social landscape changes on every platform more often than we’d like. Stay engaged with your audience and your content and consistently seek out new people to follow. This will allow you to see how others are utilizing their skills for content. It may also serve as a space of inspiration for new content.
Finally, when in doubt, ask for help. Follow digital marketers and social media managers who are active. Many of them will gladly assist you with content ideas as well as sharing tips and tricks to improve your digital presence.
If you’re looking for somewhere to start or have specific questions regarding the platforms, check out MOKup Media and Meg Kerns on Twitter and Instagram. @MOKupMedia @Megokerns.