Since the launch of MySpace, Social Media has quickly become one of the most popular forms of communications in our current day and age. It was only a matter of time that Social Media would become a crucial platform for advertising.
Not only does it allow businesses to reach a large audience at a low cost, but it could also target the relevant audience that you’ve always been searching for. As of last month (June 2017), the world’s most popular Social Media platform, Facebook, is reaching 2 billion active users per month (17million are Australians). Youtube has 1 billion users (15.4 million Aussies) ,and Instagram has 700 million users (5 million Aussies).
If you’re not advertising across Social Media channels, you could be missing out on reaching potential customers. 71% of consumers who have had a good service experience with a brand is likely to recommend it to their peers via social media.
According to Forbes, globally, there are 30 million small business pages on Facebook, but only 4 million of those are paying for advertising. 79% of Australian are on Social Media only 47% of SMBs are on it. There are still plenty of opportunities for businesses to dominate this popular platform.
While Facebook is the most popular Social Media platform, it may not necessarily be the right one for your business. So let’s discover the different types of Social Media platforms that are most popular in Australia and what they’re suitable for:
The King Kong of social media, Facebook builds your brand by creating a sense of community with your customers. Share branded visual content, videos, and links to your blog.
- Who should use it: Everyone
- Capabilities: able to share all sort of content without limitation of characters or quantity of images.
- Most efficient for: inspiring conversations and shares
- Post Frequency: 1 – 2 posts a day
- Paid advertising option: Yes
- Notes: 70% of the total Australian population is an active monthly user on Facebook
YOUTUBE
Video content is a vital element of the marketing mix. As smartphones and mobile devices get faster, and data increases, customers are engaging with brands by viewing their online videos.
- Who should use it: Brands or Individuals giving explanations or sharing expertise
- Capabilities: Video posts
- Most efficient for: sharing reviews, instructions/expertise, creative ads
- Post Frequency: once or twice a week
- Paid advertising option: Yes
- Notes: 1 in 2 Australians watch YouTube videos
Instagram is the ideal platform for sharing creative and eye-catching branded visual content.
- Who should use it: Lifestyle, Fashion, Food, Personalities, Creative Arts & Luxury Established Brands
- Capabilities: Sharing images & short videos (3 – 15 seconds)
- Most efficient for: appeal to mobile phone users through visually attractive imageries
- Post Frequency: 1 – 2 times per day
- Paid advertising option: Yes
- Who should use it: Corporate Businesses – B2B Service Providers, Recruiters & Job Seekers
- Capabilities: share business articles & trends, gain exposure from other businesses/recruiters, find/create job opportunities, create an “online resume” of your business
- Most efficient for: networking with professionals, staying updated with industry trends/news
- Post Frequency: 2 – 4 times a week
- Additional note: LinkedIn now reports there are 8 million registered users in Australia, according to research around half of this number log in every month.
- Paid advertising option: Yes
SNAPCHAT
- Who should use it: Lifestyle, Fashion & Homeware Retailer, Public Figures & Established Brands
- Capabilities: send temporary photos or videos to followers. It has the capability to use playful functions such as filters and adding “stickers”.
- Most efficient for: tapping into the Millennial crowd. Humanizing a brand/business.
- Post Frequency: 1- 5 times per day
- Paid advertising option: Yes
Improve your brand’s reputation by connecting with thought leaders in your industry. Share Tweets with useful information for your customers and prospects.
- Who should use it: Public Figures & Established Brands
- Capabilities: Create posts (limited to 140 characters), posts videos & imagesMost efficient for: quick announcements & live updates
- Most efficient for: quick announcements & live updatesPost Frequency:
- Post Frequency: multiple times per day
- Paid advertising option: Yes
- Who should use it: Lifestyle, Fashion, Food & Homeware, Travel & DIYCapabilities: share images with descriptions to depict certain lifestyle/interest
- Capabilities: share images with descriptions to depict certain lifestyle/interestMost efficient
- Most efficient for: sharing & discovering creative, visual images of a person’s lifestyle
- Post Frequency: multiple times per day
- Paid advertising option: Yes
There are more that we haven’t covered in this list such as Tumblr, Yelp, Flickr and Google Plus. If you’re interested in having a chat to find out more information on what Social Media platforms suit your business feel free to give us a call or shoot an email.
Sources:
Statistics compiled by SocialMediaNews.com.au for June 2017. Stats and research provided by the Vivid Social – Social Media Agency. Figures correct as of 30/06/17.
- https://www.sensis.com.au/about/our-reports/sensis-social-media-report
- https://www.businessinsider.com.au/this-is-how-many-people-use-snapchat-linkedin-twitter-and-facebook-in-australia-2016-3
- https://www.dreamgrow.com/21-social-media-marketing-statistics/
- https://www.dreamgrow.com/top-15-most-popular-social-networking-sites/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenchaykowski/2016/09/27/sheryl-sandberg-facebooks-4-million-advertisers-are-proof-of-the-power-of-mobile/#4f0d288f1f17