Choosing the social media platforms for your small business marketing can be overwhelming. We often get asked, “Should my business be on TikTok?” or “Do I need a YouTube channel?” And the answer is — it depends.
There’s no single correct answer when it comes to the best social media platforms for small businesses. It’s all about determining what platforms work for you, not about what might be working for another business.
Here are a few questions to consider when choosing social media platforms for small business.
Where can you find your target audience?
This is one of the biggest questions you should be asking yourself when it comes to social media marketing. Where is your target audience spending their time online? This is where knowing your audience (such as demographics and psychographics) can be extremely beneficial, in addition to some research about the demographics of each social media platform.
What are your goals with social media marketing?
It’s important to identify what you want from social media before choosing what platforms to be on. For example, your strategy will look different if your goal is helping people get to know your business versus hitting a revenue goal for ecommerce sales. Knowing your social media goals will help you create a strategy that makes sense for your business.
How does each platform align with your goals and strategy?
Every platform has something different to offer. For example, Instagram is a visual platform and requires having visual content. Facebook and X both have some versatility in the type of content you can share, including text, links, pictures, and videos.
LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B companies because of its focus on connecting business professionals. TikTok can be a great way to connect with younger demographics, but with video content being the main priority here, it requires an investment of time and energy.
How much time can you commit to social media?
This can be tough sometimes because business owners often want to do it all. However, it’s important to be realistic about how much time you can commit to your social media content. Creating and editing TikTok content or reels for Instagram can take a lot of time. If you don’t have the time to create that content or the budget to outsource it, those platforms might not be a good fit for your business.
If you’re still unsure about what your next steps are with picking a social media platform, we recommend starting small! Try one platform and see how it goes, then build from there.
Want a deeper dive on determining the best social media platforms for small business and other things to consider? Check out our guide Social Media for Small Business & Nonprofits.
If you’re ready to outsource your strategy or content, the StoryPath team is here to help. Schedule an intro call today and let’s chat about your goals.