Social media surveys estimate marketers need to spend at least 10 hours a week working on their platforms. But where should you spend those hours? You don’t want to waste time on social networking sites that won’t carry the message to your audience. When getting started, you need to ask yourself three questions. What are the demographics of my target market? Do I have the time and manpower available to update multiple social networks? Do I have the resources available to have a consistent stream of information to share on multiple networks?
Time
For business owners, time on one thing means being away from another. It can be difficult to rationalize spending time on social networking sites when you only have so many hours in a day. However, with 4 billion users total across social media platforms according to Hootsuite’s most recent study (up from 2.8 million in 2016), it provides something to think about for marketing.
It’s important to know your time constraints before starting a social media presence. Don’t spread your attention too thin. If you can only dedicate minimal time to social media, pick one platform that you can have a strong presence on, rather than three mediocre pages or five unused.
Demographics
What is your target market? The key to successful marketing is knowing your customer base (target market). Don’t spend time targeting teens when you should be marketing to another age group on a specific social network.
Each social network has its own demographics. While Facebook is still a leader for all ages, with 68 percent of people using it (according to the Pew Research Center) — this platform has started to become stagnant. There’s been very little growth in the number of Facebook users. However, other platforms like Snapchat and Instagram have seen significant growth in users 18- to 29-years-old, with both platforms having between 70 and 80 percent use in this age group. And not to be underestimated is YouTube, a non-traditional video-sharing platform, which 94 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds, and about three-quarters of other age groups, now uses on a regular basis. When marketing your business, you need to be where your customer base is located.
Resources
While time might not be a constraint, you need to think about resources. The Internet is a great tool, but you need to be able to support each social network with information, personal stories, photos, and/or videos. Depending on your business and your platforms, you might even consider takeovers for Instagram and Snapchat. You need to be able to support regular postings in order to garner more engagement and keep followers interested.
Are you ready to take the next steps in this vital social network, but don’t know how to start your presence? Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting to set up your personalized training session to learn about what platforms meet the needs of your business. Or let us manage the social media marketing for you — because hiring a knowledgeable and experienced Social Media Manager allows you to focus on what you do best!
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training, Blog Writing, and Graphic Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
