We all know how cut-throat the competition out there can be and while that might benefit consumers, it can certainly make things harder for the average person trying to run a business. So how do you stay more than just afloat? How do you get a competitive edge over the others? Well, it’s simple! Make sure to mobilize the power of social media to your advantage.
You can figure out which social media sites are most effective for your business as well as which social media platforms better support video or picture media; additionally one can also make use of targeted advertising to increase their market reach. Not sure where to begin social media marketing? No problem, because we’ve done the leg work for you and have made a list of the best 5 social media apps to grow your business.
1. Facebook
The world’s population currently stands at 7.9 billion people while Facebook has 2.89 billion users which means if you’re looking for global reach and increased audience engagement you can’t possibly go wrong here. Furthermore many businesses are also on Facebook which only adds credit to your choice to market your business here as well.
Overall, Facebook is a fairly simple, straightforward app that is able to accommodate multiple forms of media: pictures, videos, live stream videos and stories making it perfect to target the average everyday American. After all 73% of all Americans check Facebook every day while 93% of all Americans check the app on a weekly basis.
If you do choose to use Facebook as your advertising platform then make sure to remember that approximately 90% of Facebook users use the mobile app. This means you must tailor your business layout on Facebook to something that is mobile-friendly as users can easily be put off if they find it difficult to navigate your page while they’re quickly scrolling through their phone.
2. YouTube
With 2.29 billion active users, you might think YouTube is great, but not as great as Facebook. Let me stop you right there. Most likely the figures for YouTube are underestimated because while non-account holders can’t comment, like/dislike and share their own videos they can still utilize this application for viewing purposes and still frequently visit the YouTube site so don’t be fooled because marketing on YouTube might be just as good as an investment as Facebook.
However, since YouTube is primarily a video-sharing platform you won’t be uploading pictures, but rather can create your own channel for your brand and upload videos that advertise it. One great example of this can be a makeup business owner. They can create a brand channel for their makeup and then hire different and popular makeup artists to use their brand products for makeup tutorial videos; additionally, for a more organic approach, a makeup business owner can even send their products to popular YouTube influencers who can then use the product in their tutorials while mentioning the brand’s name and linking it in their video description. This way users can click on the link and be taken to the site from where they purchase the makeup product.
Another important tidbit about YouTube is that it is most likely able to reach younger audiences especially since kids watch many educational cartoons so if you’re targeting very young audiences aged under 11 then you should definitely consider this platform. YouTube is also the second most used search engine after Google! Yes, that means YouTube ranks above Yahoo, Bing, AOL etc. so feel confident about your choice to market your product/service here.
3. WhatsApp
This app that took the world by storm for its free instant messaging service now boasts approximately 2 billion users worldwide. With such a large audience, WhatsApp became fertile ground for business and the app capitalized on this through modifications and the introduction of the WhatsApp Business app and WhatsApp Business API.
This allows for businesses to use the app to enhance their customer service not only through sharing updates on purchases with customers but also through the use of automated messages and “quick replies” to respond quickly to common questions. WhatsApp also allows you to create your own business profile with your address, timings, website, email address, business description and product/service catalog.
4. Messenger
Messenger, which was once specifically a Facebook private chat app, has now grown to be a standalone application with 1.3 billion users. The app is a favorite for many thanks to its targeted advertisements and easy ability to create a chatbot to quickly respond to customer inquiries with basic information. This way the customer gets a response immediately and stays engaged as either his query is answered or he gets reassured that it will be answered. Messenger’s advantage lies in its interactive nature i.e. the use of newsletters, reminders, customer rating experiences etc.
Another key advantage scored by Messenger over WhatsApp is the ability to transfer money quickly and easily online using Messenger. If you use Facebook Marketplace then handling money transfers directly via this app is extremely convenient. Also about 56.8% of US mobile users use Messenger as opposed to 12.1% who use WhatsApp making Messenger the go-to app for US markets.
5. Instagram
This platform that made its mark for sharing pictures and awesome pre-made filters now has around 1 billion users. The platform has also expanded to allow for live stream, videos, and long videos using IGTV as well as stories. By setting up an Instagram business account you can include a basic business description as well as time posts to appear during peak traffic hours and make gather helpful data about the current state of your business.
When marketing on Instagram you should be aware that about 71% of this app’s users are under the age of 35 so make sure your product actually does cater to that demographic.
Finally…
If you want to leverage the power of social media to benefit your business then the list of the five apps above is the way to go. However, to fully and effectively mobilize these social media platforms and their tools you’re going to need a good internet connection which is why recommend you check out Xfinity internet plans. Don’t let a bad internet connection get in the way of your “audience connection.”