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In this guide, we’ll explore nine proven strategies to use social media platforms that are shaping the business landscape, explain their advantages, and give you tips on how to leverage them for growth now and in the future.
With over 5.17 billion users representing 59.9% of the global population and 92.7% of all internet users, it’s clear that social media is where your customers are—and we’re here to help you understand how to meet them there.
1. Video Social Media: How It Benefits Your Business
Video social media has become a powerhouse for engaging audiences and promoting products. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels have skyrocketed in popularity, allowing users to create, share, and watch videos with ease. Whether you’re promoting a product, sharing customer testimonials, or showcasing your services, video content is an essential part of any marketing strategy.
Best Platforms for Video Promotions
- YouTube
- TikTok
- X (formerly known as Twitter)
- Quora
Through these platforms your company can reach different audiences, making it easier to target your ideal customers with visual content.
Video Social Media Benefits
Boosts Engagement: Video content can increase audience engagement by up to 1200% compared to text and images. People are more likely to comment, like, and share videos, which can expand your brand’s reach.
Better Retention: Viewers retain 95% of a message when it’s presented in a video, compared to only 10% when reading text. This means your message is more likely to stick with your audience, leading to better brand awareness.
Showcase Your Products: Video tutorials, product demos, and customer testimonials can showcase your offerings in a visually engaging way, helping potential customers understand the value you bring.
Tip: Create 30-second short and engaging videos that highlight your product’s features or tell a story to connect emotionally with your audience. Video is a powerful tool to increase conversions and build brand loyalty.
2. Audio Social Media: What Your Audience Want to Listen
Audio social media is gaining traction, with platforms like Twitter Spaces, Clubhouse, and Spotify Greenroom offering new ways to connect through voice. As audio content becomes more popular, these platforms provide an excellent space for businesses to engage with their audience, share insights, and discuss industry trends. Clubhouse, for example, boasts 10 million weekly active users, making it a prime platform for hosting live, unfiltered audio discussions.
Audio Social Media Benefits
Build Authority: Hosting podcasts or leading discussions on industry topics helps position your brand as a thought leader. People trust voices that provide valuable information and insights.
Foster Deeper Connections: Audio content is personal. Listeners feel a stronger connection to the speaker, which builds loyalty and trust over time. Hearing a human voice can make your brand more relatable.
Cost-Effective: Compared to video production, creating audio content is far more affordable. This makes it a great option for businesses looking to market their expertise without breaking the bank.
Tip: Start a podcast or host live audio sessions where you answer common industry questions or share insights on the latest trends. Audio content is easy to produce but leaves a lasting impact on your audience.
3. Business Social Media: Where Professionals Meet
When it comes to connecting with business professionals, LinkedIn is the ultimate platform. It’s a dedicated space for networking, lead generation, and sharing industry knowledge. If your business operates in the B2B space, this is where you need to be. Plus, you can even use Twitter to build business relationships and engage with prospects, partners, and clients.
LinkedIn Benefits for Your Business
LinkedIn drives an impressive 80% of B2B leads from social media, making it a goldmine for businesses targeting other businesses. With 1 billion members and 1.6 billion visitors per month, it’s a massive network of professionals ready to connect.
Whether you’re looking to hire or showcase your company culture, LinkedIn is essential. Around 61 million people search for jobs on LinkedIn every week, and 140 job applications are submitted every second. On average, 6 people are hired every minute!
Key Benefits:
Professional Networking: Build connections with other professionals, potential clients, and partners.
Lead Generation: With so many B2B decision-makers on the platform, it’s ideal for generating leads.
Talent Acquisition: Post job openings and attract top talent.
Use LinkedIn to share informative articles, case studies, and industry reports. This helps position your business as an expert in your field and attracts the right audience.
4. Shoppable Social Media Networks: Transforming the Way of Business Transactions
Shoppable social media is revolutionizing how consumers discover and buy products. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, TikTok, and Shopify allow users to browse, review, and purchase items directly within the app. This seamless shopping experience has become a game-changer for businesses in the eCommerce space.
Shoppable Social Media Benefits
Instant Shopping: Consumers can easily find products, read reviews, and make purchases without leaving the platform. This quick and convenient process encourages more impulse buying, boosting sales.
Product Discovery: Approximately 27% of consumers prefer discovering new products through social media over any other channel. In fact, 41% of consumers found a product on social media in the last three months—a 14% increase year-over-year. Additionally, 84% of consumers search for brands on social media before making a purchase. This makes shoppable posts a powerful tool for visibility and conversions.
Tip: To make the most of shoppable social media, use high-quality images and clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to encourage users to click and buy directly from your posts. You can also include links to your website for more information about your products, which can help drive traffic and boost sales.
5. Private or Closed Social Media Networks: Building Exclusive Communities
Private social media networks create online spaces where members can communicate and share information in a more intimate, controlled setting. Platforms like Facebook Groups, Slack, and Discourse allow businesses to create closed communities for deeper engagement with customers, partners, or employees. These private groups are perfect for sharing exclusive content, fostering discussions, and strengthening relationships.
Why Private Social Media Networks Benefit Your Business?
Exclusive Access: Offering private or VIP groups creates a sense of exclusivity for your top customers or team members. These groups can be used to provide early access to new products, special deals, or behind-the-scenes content, making members feel valued.
Customer Loyalty: By giving customers a space where they can feel like insiders, you can build stronger loyalty. People love to feel part of something exclusive, and these communities foster a sense of belonging that encourages brand loyalty.
Two-Way Communication: Private networks allow for more meaningful conversations. You can receive direct feedback from your customers or colleagues and encourage them to share their experiences and ideas in a trusted environment.
Tip: Create a private group for your customers where they can share their experiences, ask questions, and get exclusive offers. This can help build stronger relationships and foster a community that feels personally connected to your brand.
6. Inspirational Social Media Network
Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram excel as inspirational social media hubs, allowing users to explore ideas, discover trends, and gather inspiration on everything from home decor to business strategies. For businesses, these platforms are a goldmine for visually showcasing products, services, and brand messages in an inspiring way.
How It Benefits Your Business?
Drive Traffic: Did you know that Pinterest alone drives 33% more referral traffic to shopping sites than Facebook? That’s a significant boost, making it a key player for eCommerce businesses.
Inspiration Leads to Action: People come to platforms like Pinterest and Instagram not just to browse but to get ideas they’ll eventually act on, such as making a purchase or trying something new.
Tip: Share visually appealing images that inspire your audience—whether it’s DIY projects, fashion tips, or innovative business strategies. The more inspiring and visually captivating your posts, the more likely you are to drive engagement and conversions.
7. Discussion Forums Platforms
Platforms like Reddit and Quora are well-known discussion forums where users ask questions, share insights, and engage in thoughtful discussions on a wide variety of topics. Businesses can take advantage of these platforms by engaging with niche communities, providing expertise, and driving traffic back to their websites.
How It Benefits Your Business?
Engage with Niche Communities: Whether you’re in tech, health, or fashion, there’s a forum for every niche audience. You can connect with people who are genuinely interested in your industry.
Get Honest Feedback: Forums are a great place to get honest, unfiltered feedback on your products or services.
Drive Traffic: By providing valuable answers and insights, you can drive traffic back to your website and attract potential customers.
Tip: Actively participate in discussions by answering questions related to your industry. Offer insights and practical advice to build credibility and attract a targeted audience.
8. Review Sites and Platforms
Review platforms like Yelp and Google My Business allow customers to share their experiences with a business. For companies, this is a trusted source of information that can either draw in new customers or, if negative, harm your reputation. Positive reviews can be a powerful factor in building trust with potential customers.
How It Benefits Your Business?
Build Trust: 90% of consumers say that positive reviews influence their buying decisions, making review platforms essential for reputation management.
Improve SEO: Having positive reviews on Google My Business can help your business appear higher in local search results.
Enhance Credibility: The more positive reviews you have, the more likely people are to trust your brand.
Tip: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and respond promptly to any negative feedback to show you care.
9. Social Media Live Streams
Live streaming on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube offers an interactive and dynamic way to connect with your audience in real-time. It’s one of the most engaging forms of content, providing a unique opportunity to build relationships with your customers and create authentic experiences.
How It Benefits Your Business?
Increase Engagement: Live videos generate 6 times more interactions than pre-recorded content. The real-time nature encourages viewers to comment, ask questions, and react, making it a powerful tool for building engagement.
Real-Time Connection: Whether you’re launching a new product, giving a behind-the-scenes tour, or hosting a Q&A session, live streaming allows you to engage directly with your audience. For example, brands like Sephora frequently use live streams to introduce new products, answer customer questions, and demonstrate how to use their beauty products in real-time.
Boost Visibility: Many platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, prioritize live streams in their algorithms. This means live videos are more likely to appear at the top of users’ feeds, increasing your content’s chances of being seen. In fact, businesses that utilize live streaming often see 10-20% higher organic reach compared to regular posts.
Practical Tip
Consider hosting live Q&A sessions where your audience can ask questions about your products or services. Another idea is to offer a behind-the-scenes look at your business or upcoming product launches.
For example, companies like Tesla have successfully used live streams to showcase product unveilings, generating excitement and increasing sales interest. These real-time interactions create a sense of urgency and connection, leading to higher engagement and potential conversions.
Live streaming is not just about engagement; it’s a powerful way to humanize your brand and foster genuine relationships with your audience.
How to Get Rank Digital Can Help You Leverage These Platforms?
By understanding and using these 10 types of social media, your business can build a strong digital presence, engage with your target audience, and drive sales.
From video and audio platforms to shoppable and inspirational social media, each type offers unique advantages that can propel your business forward.
However, managing all these platforms can be overwhelming. This is where Get Rank Digital comes in. Our experience digital marketers help you navigate the ever-changing world of social media marketing, ensuring your brand stands out and reaches the right audience.
Whether you’re looking to grow your business now or future-proof it for tomorrow, we have the tools and expertise to help you succeed.
Contact Get Rank Digital today and let us help you build a strategy that delivers real results!
