With more than half the world’s population now using social media, having at least some social media pages should be high on your priority list. The good news is you don’t need to be on all social channels – just ideally the ones your customers are on too! We’ve put together a list of pros and cons to help you decide which ones are right for your business.
It’s the most used social platform worldwide and you can make a business page which includes your website link, opening hours, contact details and photos.
Pros: It’s easy to get set up and running. Facebook even has a handy ‘how-to’ guide which explains everything.
Cons: To get the most out of Facebook and stand out against your competitors, you might have to pay to make sure you’re seen by more people.
Top tip: Unlike other social media channels, customers can add reviews to your Facebook business page which will help people understand what your business does, and show some valuable real customer testimonials.
Another popular social channel, Instagram allows you to share photos and videos. It’s mostly used as a mobile app and is a brilliant way to tell customers what your business has been up to (mainly through pictures!).
Pros: You can create a visual overview of your business – think of it like a photo album.
Cons: It’s visual only, so might not be right for your business if sharing photos and videos isn’t something you’d like to do.
Top tip: Sharing photos or videos alone might not mean you get loads of people following you. However, there are a few ways you can get your posts in front of more people. Read this advice from Instagram.
The most downloaded app of 2021. It’s all moving videos on TikTok, and there are all kinds of videos on there, from reacting to dance trends, exercise tips, recipes, to sharing advice.
Pros: You can get creative and share videos that you’ve made yourself. TikTok makes it super easy to do this.
Cons: Over 60% of TikTok’s user base is aged 10-29. So, bear in mind that it might be a little trickier to reach your target audience if they’re much older.
Top tip: Be creative. People use TikTok to have fun and learn, so if you plan on creating videos, it’s worth having a play around with it.
Whether it’s sharing news, replying to posts or debating something, conversations are what Twitter is all about. With 368 million users, it could be a great tool for your business.
Pros: Sharing business updates and starting conversations. Also really good for quickly responding to customer queries. Lots of companies use it for their customer service.
Cons: Twitter is much less of a visual channel, so you’d be better off sticking to Instagram if you want to share photos or videos.
Top tip: All posts have character limits which means you only have 280 spaces to fill. So if you want to share longer written content, Twitter’s not the right channel for you.
Everything shared on LinkedIn is business-focused – whether that’s career development, knowledge sharing or exciting news about your business.
Pros: You can post business updates, articles and job vacancies to help your team grow.
Cons: As LinkedIn is useful for getting your business name out there, it’s a place for professionals to chat - not a place to sell products.
Top tip: LinkedIn business pages tend to be displayed on search engine results pages. We recommend making the description of your business page super clear to help more people find you.
By creating social channels for your business, you could be connecting with existing and potential customers every single time they open their phone. This is just one of the many ways you could grow your business online.
You may have already spoken to one of our V-Hub Digital Advisers, but if not and you're looking for more support you can get in touch here. Our Knowledge Centre is also packed with information and tips to help you on your digital journey.
For more support discover our free business support helpline and ​speak to one of our Business Advisers by phone, contact form or web chat.
Wondering what you can ask? Our team can help with a range of digital topics
Available Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm, our friendly team are here to provide guidance and support on the topics that matter to your business.
