Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google +, Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat and now Ello, so many platforms, but which one do you choose?
The first question you need to ask yourself is “who are my target audience?” Answer that and you are halfway there.
95% of us should be on Linkedin, this is our business suit, the place we share our qualifications and experience, a chance to add our opinions on burning business discussions and share articles relevant to our industry.
Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram are great if your business is visual, so probably not the place for accountants, solicitors or health and safety professionals.
Only set up a social media platform if you are going to use it. Nothing looks worse than an unloved Facebook page or a Twitter account when the last tweet was sent three weeks ago. In the format of the Channel 4 property programme, Consistency, Consistency, Consistency!
If this all sounds a bit of a drag there are many social media professionals out there waiting for your business (me included). They can set up a strategy that is right for you using the correct platforms and either do it for you or teach you how to do it yourself.
Word of warning: talk to several different companies and find the person who you like and feel you could work with and don’t necessarily go with price. Price varies widely, from bargain basement to gold standard and does not guarantee good or bad service. Check they have some experience of your industry, if they don’t, then don’t use them.
Either way you do have to ask yourself if you can afford NOT to be doing it.
Take a look at these stats and decide for yourself
Twitter has 271 million active users, 30% 18 to 29, 18% 30 to 49 and 12% over 50
Google + 540 million users, average age 28 and 67% male
Instagram 200 million, 67% aged 18 to 34
Facebook 1.3 billion users of which 41.4% are 35 to 54
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