We mention it all the time, and it’s true. Social media is important! But that doesn’t mean that you need to be using every social platform at every moment of the day.

It is necessary for the management of your social channels and maintenance of your follower base that you evaluate and strategize which platforms are the most beneficial for your business to use.

This blog will help you identify the main qualities and goals of your business and the social media platforms that coincide with those features.

Should you use all social channels?

The short answer to this question is no. But frankly, the answer isn’t that simple.

First, you must understand that not every business has the time or resources to run and maintain all of the popular social media channels that make up the internet’s social network. If this is the case for your business, you need to focus on identifying and strategizing based on the needs and qualities of your business.

On the other hand, if this is not an obstacle for your business, feel free to use all the social media platforms your heart desires!

Secondly, businesses differ in their company culture, products and services and more. Qualities of social media platforms differ, as well. Because of this, not every social media platform will be suited to every business.

Don’t take away the time, money and strategy that could be used on platforms that benefit your business on those that don’t match your business and its goals!

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that you don’t want to bombard your followers with social posts. Consider setting up a posting schedule to build consistency with your posting while maintaining a balance in where and when you post.

Also, social media platforms are not created the same when it comes to posting schedules, so it is valuable to know how often specific platforms require that you post. Give this blog a read to learn more about these platform-specific posting schedules.

Social media channel and business qualities

Now, it’s time to think about all the qualities that make up your business. What industry are you in? Do you have a casual or formal work environment? Is your business focused on serving customers or other businesses?

These are just a few of many qualities that help define your business, and the same goes for social media platforms. Some are more conversational while others are well suited for formal business interactions and engagement, for example.

To get a better grasp of what these qualities mean and how to apply them to social media use, here are a few examples for reference.

Say you run a law firm. Because of the industry, it’s assumed that the business is a formal workplace and employees also interact formally with customers.

What about a jewelry boutique? Although it’s a professional business, they tend to have warm and informal interactions with their clients. The nature of this industry is fun, creative and trendy.

So, both of these businesses run very differently when it comes to their interaction with clients, work environment and more and the social media channels they use should reflect that.

For a law firm, to hold true to their professional and formal business setting and interactions, being on Facebook and LinkedIn is a necessity. Specifically, LinkedIn provides the perfect outlet for professionalism through social media interaction and engagement.

As for jewelry businesses, creative and visual outlets are a perfect fit. Instagram allows businesses like this to post photos of merchandise as well as positive customer interactions and client stories. At the same time, Twitter could also be beneficial to put out fun and interactive posts to followers.

As you can see, no social media platform is perfectly suited to every business. Don’t commit yourself to the time and energy it takes to run multiple social media channels if they don’t align with your brand.

Have you already identified your business qualities and mastered the social media platforms that benefit it? Consider researching other potential social media channels that make sense for your business to join. Here is another way to maintain your business’s identity, time and money, all while continuing to expand your network!

There's even more!

Although we have discussed the four social media platform leaders, there aren't restrictions when it comes to using platforms outside of Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Other social platforms making a big impact right now are Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat.

Looking back to the jewelry boutique example we mentioned earlier, a platform like Pinterest can enhance the visual connection a company like this has with its followers. Creating Pinterest boards that include your business’s products as well as others that highlight current trends or gift ideas is a great way for users to see your commitment to their needs and for you to promote products!

Pinterest even has a visual search feature that allows users to purchase products straight through the app from your business. Click here to read more.

Final thoughts

The best way to use social media is not a one-size-fits-all topic.

As we touched on, being on every social media channel is not a necessity when you are reaching for success. Instead, focusing on the best fit for your business can be more beneficial.

Sometimes that means being on one social media platform, other times it can mean being on all of them!

One thing we don’t have to question, though, is how important social media is to your business. Here at RevLocal, we believe in the power of social media so much that we have devoted services to supporting the social media channels of local small businesses.

Click here to learn more about all that this service offers.