Facebook and Instagram continue to be popular social media platforms with billions of users ready to engage. Should your business be on one or both?
Facebook is still the most popular social media platform, but some business pages are seeing a gradual decline in engagement. People are still logging on to Facebook. They’re just not spending as much time on Facebook as before.
Instagram is a great place to share visual posts and videos, plus a large percentage of users are searching Instagram for new products. Some people like Instagram because there are fewer unwanted interruptions in their feeds.
Being Active on Facebook and Instagram
How much time you dedicate to one or both will depend on the nature of your business and your target audience.
I have a few points to ponder that should help you decide where to focus your marketing efforts.
Target Audience
Plain and simple – if your target audience is active on Facebook and Instagram, then your business needs to be active there, too.
The demographics and interests of your customers will help you determine if which of these social platforms will get you in front of your audience.
Visual Content
Instagram is all about the visuals like photos, graphics, and videos. This makes it ideal for your business if you can showcase your products or services with eye-catching images or videos.
Facebook also supports visual content, but it allows for more versatile content types like direct blog and article links, and event creation on the platform.
Advertising Opportunities
As I mentioned, some business pages are seeing a gradual decline in engagement on Facebook and Instagram. That means some of your business posts are being seen less by your followers.
That’s where advertising on Facebook and Instagram helps you reach a targeted audience and drive engagement. You don’t have to invest much to benefit big.
Local Presence
Facebook is a great place for promoting your business locally. If you serve a local community, having a Facebook page can help you connect with local customers, create events, and gather reviews.
Build a Community
Both Facebook and Instagram provide opportunities for building your own community of followers.
You can connect with your audience, respond to inquiries, build a community around your brand, and get conversations going.
You can also turn those followers into customers!
Keep an Eye on Your Competition
Are your competitors active on Facebook and Instagram? What kind of posts are they sharing? Which of their posts get the most engagement?
If they are finding success with your same target audience, that’s an important reason for your business to establish a presence as well.
Facebook and Instagram – One or Both?
To be successful, the decision to be on Facebook and/or Instagram has to align with your overall marketing strategy and business goals.
Facebook and Instagram do provide valuable ways to connect with your audience and promote your products or services, and a great way for your business to be found online.
