Are you selling on the correct social media platforms?
Chances are, you’re well aware of the benefits of using social media for your small business. It’s a great way to network, build brand awareness, and some even allow you to make sales directly.
Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, and TikTok are excellent platforms that reach millions of people every day — but some are going to yield better results than others. How can you decide which to focus your marketing efforts on?
Here are a few areas to consider when selling on social media platforms:
What are you selling?
Do you need a visual platform?
How do you want people to contact you?
Who are your target customers?
Where do your strengths lie?
Let’s explore these in more detail.
What are you selling?
Firstly, it’s important to think about what it is you’re selling. Are you B2B, helping other companies? Or are you B2C, selling products or services directly to consumers? Find a platform that will benefit your business.
Do you need a visual platform?
If you work in eCommerce (selling crafts or handmade items, for instance), it’s best to look at visual social media platforms, like Instagram.
It’s important for potential customers to see photographs and videos of your products. While you can add images to social media platforms like Twitter, it’s more of a text-based medium. Twitter also has restricted character counts that may not be suitable for writing engaging product descriptions.
Platforms like Instagram and Facebook also have ‘shop’ functions. This means you can sell directly through your social media page, rather than signposting customers to another website or marketplace like Etsy. Creating a catalogue on your social media profile could be a great way to save time and concentrate your marketing efforts.
How do you want people to contact you?
In contrast, if you provide services, you may use your social media presence in a different way. Rather than creating an online shop, you might want to funnel potential clients to sending direct messages or contacting you by email. If this is the case, choose a social media platform that has an easy-to-use messaging system, such as Facebook. You can set up a business account that allows you to
Who are your target customers?
Another important factor is your target customer. Who do you want to reach? Although many of us use multiple social media platforms every day, certain sites attract particular demographics. TikTok, for example, is extremely popular with Gen Z — great if your target audience is 25 and under. However, if most of your customers are over the age of 40, you may not reach them so successfully on this social media platform. Statistics suggest that Instagram is most used by 18 to 34-year-olds, while Facebook is popular with 25 to 34-year-olds.
You may also want to consider gender, location, and specific interests.
Where do your strengths lie?
Not everyone feels comfortable starring in videos on TikTok or YouTube. Equally, crafting engaging product descriptions isn’t for everyone. It’s important to find a social media marketing platform that you feel confident using.
Look for those that appeal to your target audience and your products or services, but also suit your preferred selling methods.
Social media support for small businesses
When it comes to selling on social media, it can take a bit of time, trial, and error to get into your groove. But with persistence, social media can really boost sales for your small business.
If you need a hand with online media management, admin, or research into hashtags and the best platforms for you, Bizzybee Bolly can help.
Feel free to get in touch with Erin for advice and more information. And why not check out the
Bizzybee Bolly Instagram account for some social media inspiration?
