No one denies that social media is a marketing powerhouse, but not all platforms for it are the same. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and the list of options goes on. If you are going to focus your energy on social media to market your small business, which way do you go? The two big contenders are Facebook and Twitter, so let's start with a comparison of these two social giants. Let's Talk About Facebook At the moment, Facebook is still the king of the social castle even with recent setbacks with regards to hacking and the inappropriate use of user info. Even so, anyone who's anyone is still on Facebook. You should be too. Facebook is an intertwined network of pages and groups, with the first designed to share information with an audience where the second is intended for more community interaction. If you want to really build engagement with your client base, this is the way to go. Photo albums can be filled with products, or examples of your work, or even just fun pics to keep people interested. This is the place to offer real information in your posts since you can post full pages of material without worrying about character count. Fill up your profile with contact information, a brick and mortar address, customer reviews and even share the history of your business. Integrate a calendar and even offer items for sale. It's a very versatile platform that does a lot more than just keep people connected. It's where you can build relationships. Let's Talk About Twitter Originally limited to 140 characters, Twitter was intended to be a much simpler platform for quick announcements, comments and outbursts. Not a place for in-depth conversation. Today, you can tweet up to 280 characters and embed photos or videos along with your text. Still, Twitter is known as the place to go for more concise and to-the-point commentary. This is where you want to post news, announcements or anything that is quick and timely. The timeline on Twitter is a lot more streamlined than Facebook, and your posts are less likely to get "lost". OK, Which is Best for My Small Business? The bottom line in this comparison is that each platform has its place and will different things for your business. Neither one is "best". Think of Facebook as a comprehensive annual catalog, compared to Twitter as a weekly sales flyer. It used to be that most people in your small business's target audience had both accounts, meaning you were often reaching the same people when you tweeted as when you posted a status update. These days, more people have chosen one over the other for whatever their reasons, so you need to promote your business in both worlds in order to reach as many people as possible. Regardless of which direction you choose, make the most of social media by keeping your accounts up-to-date with fresh information, and don't delay too long when responding to any direct messages. There is no particular reason why you must choose one over the other, and it's probably the best route to use both to their individual advantages. A multi-faceted social media approach will reach more viewers in the end. Have additional questions about Social Media Marketing for your small business? We LOVE to help! Please feel welcome to contact us Toll Free: (866) 764-2877