Social media is everywhere nowadays, which is a reason why more business owners are turning to it to promote their brand and find more customers. But, how do you use social media to your full advantage to reach your target audience? In order to benefit your business, it’s crucial to use the right social media network for your business. There are many sites out there, so how do you know which one to use? Here are some basic tips of finding the right social media network to use for your business so you can get the most out of it.

1. Who is your audience and where are they at?

Knowing your audience is crucial to running a business. You need to know where your customers are at and what social media sites and resources they use. Do a simple Q&A with a few customers to learn what sites they use most or how they learn about news in your specific niche. For example,  I run a graphic design business so I would ask a few clients of mine about how they find potential designers to hire. This lets me think like them and know what sites to use to find them. You may have to check up with this occasionally, as many social media websites are trends. For example if you used Myspace to promote your music-related business, you might have to look elsewhere in modern times.

2. What type of content do you have?

Social media is all about content. You’ve most likely heard that “content is king” but it only rules when it is channeled correctly through the right outlet. First, you have to figure out what content you can come up with for the rest of your business lifespan. Most businesses can use images to show what they have to offer. If you have a visually-based business, I’d suggest an image-heavy network, like Instagram instead of a text-based social media network, such as Twitter. So think about what you’re going to post and use the right social media network for it. If you can use a variety of content, like most businesses do, you might want to narrow it down to the most popular social media networks, or whatever your audience is using most.  Also, keep in mind the tone of your content so it matches the website. You don’t want to post a bunch of party photos on LinkedIn, or it will rub users the wrong way and be ineffective.

3. How will I get my audience to interact with my content?

After you get an idea of what content to post, it’s important to know how your audience will react to it. You want to get more likes, comments, and reposts with every post you make. The more you get your posts interacted with, the more you are likely to lure someone in for a sale. If you don’t happen to make a sale, people who interact with your content will at least see your name and get familiar with your brand.  You always need to be thinking of new things to post that people will really like or have something to comment with. It’s pointless to put your message out there if it’s not going to get any feedback or it’s only going to go unnoticed by your followers.

4. Are my competitors on this site?

This is important to know for a few reasons. If the social media network you decide to use is flooded with your competitors, you will need to outdo them, so it’s important to bring something slightly different to the table in order to stand out. No one wants to see a million businesses of the same type fighting for attention. If it’s crowded with your rivals, it’s also a good sign because they most likely have found that your audience is using that social media network. They are already on it for a reason, which is most likely because it is working for them. You can always switch it up and use a social media website that not many of your competitors are at and be the first one to do so, but it all depends on what your audience will think and if you can be the first one to fulfill their unique needs. So always keep in mind about your audience AND your competitors.

These are just the basics for finding the perfect social media network for your business. After you do some thinking, it’s important to dive right in, and start posting on whatever social media site you use. Look at others to find inspiration for content and you should have no issue using social media for your business. If you have any specific questions, leave a comment here or message my Facebook page and I’ll be happy to help you out.