Which Social Media Platform Should You Use?

Harry Lancaster

Last Updated: June 18, 2024

It’s important to select the right social media platform for your business.

Don’t spray and pray, be focused and strategically select one or two platforms at a time. Initially focus on competence then build towards mastery.

Follow our simple steps to get started, or dive straight into our community for more advanced strategies.

Step 1: Determine which social media platforms you want to use?

3 Min Social Media Breakdown by Platform:

Check out the basic run down below and identify where you would like to begin.

Facebook: For Local Businesses, Retail, Food and Beverage, Services, Nonprofits, and Community Organizations. Usage: Facebook’s broad user base makes it versatile for various business types. It’s used for community building, customer service, targeted advertising, event promotion, and sharing updates and multimedia content.

Instagram: Fashion, Beauty, Travel, Food and Beverage, Fitness, Lifestyle Brands, E-commerce, and Influencers. Usage: Instagram is visual-centric, making it perfect for businesses with strong visual content. It’s used for brand building, showcasing products, influencer marketing, customer engagement, and storytelling through photos, videos, stories, and reels.

LinkedIn: B2B Companies, Professional Services, Recruiting Firms, Educational Institutions, Tech Companies, and Corporate Brands. Usage: LinkedIn is professional and industry-focused, ideal for networking, B2B marketing, thought leadership, recruiting, and professional development. Businesses use it to share industry insights, company news, job postings, and connect with professionals.

Twitter: News Outlets, Tech Companies, Startups, Public Figures, Media, Entertainment, and Customer Service-centric businesses. Usage: Twitter is great for real-time updates, customer service, industry news, and engaging in conversations. It’s used for sharing quick updates, responding to customer inquiries, and participating in trending topics.

TikTok: Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Fitness, E-commerce, and Startups. Usage: TikTok is ideal for businesses targeting younger demographics (Gen Z and Millennials) and those looking to create viral content. It’s great for brand awareness, showcasing products, behind-the-scenes content, and engaging with trends and challenges.

Pinterest: Fashion, Beauty, Home Décor, DIY, Crafts, Food and Beverage, and Wedding Planning. Usage: Pinterest is ideal for businesses with strong visual content and DIY inspiration. It’s used for driving traffic to websites, showcasing products, sharing tutorials, and visual storytelling through pins and boards.

YouTube: Education, Entertainment, Fitness, Beauty, Tech, E-commerce, and Travel. Usage: YouTube is powerful for video content, including tutorials, product reviews, vlogs, educational content, and entertainment. Businesses use it for brand building, demonstrating products, and engaging with a global audience through videos.

Reddit: Tech Companies, Gaming, Startups, Niche Communities, and Brands with strong online communities. Usage: Reddit is ideal for community engagement and niche marketing. Businesses use it to participate in discussions, conduct AMAs (Ask Me Anything), and gather market insights.

WhatsApp: Customer Service-centric businesses, Retail, E-commerce, and Local Services. Usage: WhatsApp is used for direct communication with customers, providing customer support, sending updates, and facilitating transactions. It’s popular for businesses looking to provide personalized and real-time customer service.

Step 2: Create Your Social Media Presence & Profile

If you have an overall concept of how you would like to present your business to the world via your shop front or website this can then be translated into specific media strategies for each platform.

How you go about creating content for X(Twitter) is different to what you need for Tik Tok. How you present and interact on your google page is different to what you do on Facebook.

For most platforms you’ll need to be ready with the following:

Here are the key points on setting up effective social media profiles across different platforms. If you are ready with this kind of content, setting up will be much easier!

Profile Picture or logo

Use a high-quality, visually appealing image that represents your brand well
Ensure it is sized correctly for each platform (e.g. 170x170px for Facebook, 400x400px for Twitter)
For personal brands, use a clear headshot photo
For businesses, use your logo or a branded image

Bio/Description

Craft a concise, compelling bio that explains who you are and what you offer
Include relevant keywords that your audience may search for
Add a call-to-action like a link to your website or online store

Username/Handle

Use a consistent username across all platforms if possible
Make it short, memorable and aligned with your brand name

Cover/Header Image

Utilize branded cover/header images that complement your profile picture
Ensure proper sizing for each platform (e.g. 1500x500px for Facebook cover photo)
Can include a tagline, website URL or other key info

Links

Add links to your website, online store, blog or other owned digital properties
Use link optimization tools like Linktree or Lnk.bio for Instagram

Other Tips

Set account to public visibility to maximize discoverability
Use consistent branding elements like colors, fonts, tone across profiles
Be intentional about which platforms to be active on based on your audience
Post consistently with a content strategy tailored to each platform

By following these guidelines, you will be ready to create cohesive, optimised social media profiles that effectively represent your brand and begin to engage an audience.

Doing this preparation will also make setting up your pages and profiles easier.

Highlight: It’s important to pick the right platform for your business and present yourself to the world with care and attention.

Takeaway: Research which platforms your customers or desired audience naturally uses and build a bespoke strategy to reach them.

If you would like to know more about set up guides for beginners through to more advanced activation strategies check out our guides and courses in our free community.

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Join our FREE business community. In our Thrive business community, we offer simple guides, courses, and provide tools as to how you can implement these tactics and strategies in your business today.