Top Social Media Platforms That Work Best for Different Types of Businesses
Social media has become a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. It offers an easy way to connect with customers, promote products, and grow a brand. But with so many platforms out there, it can be tricky to know which one works best for your business. Whether you're just starting or want to optimize your social media strategy, understanding the right platform and how to use it is key to success.
In this blog, we'll explore the top social media platforms that are best for different types of businesses. We'll also share tips on how to grow your business through social media, including the level of difficulty, integrations, costs, and the pros and cons of each platform.
Why Social Media Matters for Businesses
Before diving into which platform is best, it’s important to know why social media is essential for businesses today.
Reach a Wide Audience: Social media has millions (even billions) of users worldwide. In Australia, over 90% of the population is active on social media platforms. According to Statista, 91% of Australians use social media.
Drive Sales: Social media is not just for brand awareness; it also leads to sales. According to RedSearch, in 2024, 17.08 million Australian shoppers used online shopping websites monthly, a 45% increase from 2020 (11.78%).
Build Relationships: It’s a great way to build trust and loyalty with customers by sharing content, responding to questions, and showing the human side of your business.
Now, let’s look at which social media platforms work best for different types of businesses and how you can optimize your use of these platforms.
1. Facebook
Facebook remains one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide. As of 2024, over 86% of Australians are active on Facebook, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to reach a wide audience (Statista,2024)
Why Facebook Works Best for Your Business:
Wide Audience Reach: Facebook has a large user base, and this makes it perfect for businesses that want to reach a broad audience.
Targeted Ads: Facebook allows businesses to target ads based on age, location, interests, and more.
Facebook Shops: Businesses can set up a store directly on Facebook to sell products.
How to Optimize Facebook for Your Business:
Set up a Business Profile: Make sure your business profile is complete with all the details like your location, hours, and contact info.
Use Facebook Ads: Start with small ad campaigns to test your audience before increasing your budget.
Post Regularly: Consistency is key to keeping your audience engaged.
Cost and Difficulty:
Cost: Ads can start at around $5 per day, but the cost will increase based on the type of campaign and your target audience.
Difficulty Level: Easy to get started. Managing ads may require some learning.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Large user base (86% in Australia)
Targeted advertising options
Facebook Shops feature
Cons
Organic reach has decreased
Can be expensive for ads
Needs constant content updates
2. Instagram
Instagram is a visual platform perfect for businesses that have visually appealing products or services. In Australia, around 60% of people use Instagram (source: Statista), and it's especially popular among younger audiences.
Why Instagram Works Best for Your Business:
Highly Visual: Ideal for businesses in fashion, food, beauty, and lifestyle.
Instagram Stories & Reels: These features allow businesses to share behind-the-scenes content, promotions, and short videos to engage followers.
Shoppable Posts: Instagram lets you tag products in posts so followers can easily buy directly from your profile.
How to Optimize Instagram for Your Business:
Use Hashtags: Research and use hashtags that are relevant to your business to increase visibility.
Post Engaging Content: Share high-quality images, customer stories, and videos.
Utilize Stories and Reels: Create fun and engaging short-form content to capture your audience's attention.
Cost and Difficulty:
Cost: Instagram ads start at around $5 per day.
Difficulty Level: Easy to manage, but requires creativity for content creation.
Pros and Cons :
Pros
Great for visual businesses
High engagement rates (especially with Stories)
Shopping features (Instagram Shop)
Cons
Limited organic reach
Needs regular, high-quality content
Time-consuming content creation
3. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the go-to platform for B2B (business-to-business) marketing. It is widely used by professionals and businesses looking to network, find clients, or hire employees. According to a survey, around 42% of Australians use LinkedIn (Statista,2024)
Why LinkedIn Works Best for Your Business:
Professional Networking: LinkedIn is the best platform for businesses looking to connect with professionals or other businesses.
Content for Industry Leaders: Share insightful content, case studies, and articles to establish your business as an authority in your industry.
LinkedIn Ads: You can run highly targeted ads for B2B companies.
How to Optimize LinkedIn for Your Business:
Complete Your Profile: Make sure your business page has all the necessary information, including services and products offered.
Share Valuable Content: Post regularly about your industry, company news, or professional insights.
Engage with Others: Comment and share posts from other professionals to build relationships.
Cost and Difficulty:
Cost: LinkedIn ads are more expensive, starting at around $6 per click.
Difficulty Level: Medium. Managing a business page and ads requires understanding your audience and content strategy.
Pros and Cons :
Pros
Best for B2B marketing
Excellent for networking and job hiring
Professional-focused content
Cons
Ads can be expensive
Organic reach can be low
Requires a professional tone
4. TikTok
TikTok has exploded in popularity, especially among younger audiences. Around 40% of Australians are active users on TikTok (Statista,2024) It is a platform built for short, engaging video content.
Why TikTok Works Best for Your Business:
Viral Potential: TikTok's algorithm makes it easy for content to go viral, even with a small following.
Creative Videos: Perfect for businesses that can create fun, engaging videos showcasing their products or services.
TikTok Ads: TikTok offers creative ad formats that are more engaging than traditional ads.
How to Optimize TikTok for Your Business:
Create Fun and Engaging Content: Think outside the box and create entertaining, shareable videos.
Use TikTok Ads: You can run ads in the form of short video clips that blend in seamlessly with user content.
Partner with Influencers: Collaborate with influencers to reach a larger audience.
Cost and Difficulty:
Cost: TikTok ads start at $10 per day, but organic reach is great without spending much.
Difficulty Level: Medium. Creating engaging, creative videos requires time and effort.
Pros and Cons :
Pros
Potential for viral content
Great engagement with younger audience
Organic reach is good
Cons
Requires creative video content
Ads can be expensive
Content creation can be time-consuming
5. Twitter
Twitter is a fast-paced platform used for short, text-based content. While it’s not as popular in Australia as Facebook or Instagram, around 17% of Australians still use Twitter (Statista,2024)
Why Twitter Works Best for Your Business:
Real-Time Communication: Great for businesses looking to provide customer service, respond quickly to inquiries, or share news.
Hashtags for Discovery: Use hashtags to make your tweets more discoverable and join trending conversations.
Twitter Ads: Target users based on interests, keywords, and location.
How to Optimize Twitter for Your Business:
Tweet Regularly: Keep your audience engaged by posting frequently.
Engage with Trends: Join conversations that are trending or relevant to your business.
Use Hashtags: Research trending hashtags and use them in your tweets.
Cost and Difficulty:
Cost: Twitter ads start at around $0.50 per engagement.
Difficulty Level: Easy to get started, but requires regular monitoring and engagement.
Pros and Cons :
Pros
Great for real-time updates
Easy to engage with trending topics
Hashtags increase visibility
Cons
Tweets can get lost in the feed
Needs constant engagement
Limited space for content
Each social media platform offers unique benefits depending on the type of business you have. Facebook is great for a wide audience, Instagram is perfect for visually-driven businesses, LinkedIn is best for B2B connections, TikTok is ideal for creative businesses, and Twitter offers real-time engagement.
When choosing a platform, consider your audience, business type, and resources. You don’t have to use every platform, but you should focus on the ones that align with your goals. With the right strategies, social media can help you grow your business and connect with customers like never before.
To make the most out of your social media efforts, always monitor your analytics, adjust your strategy based on results, and stay consistent with your content. Happy posting!
