We don’t have to tell you there is a ridiculous number of social media sites. There’s NO WAY a small business can or should have a presence on all of them. Instead, we recommend you pick a few and master them.
In this post, we talk about how to choose the right social media profiles for your food business.
Go Where Jane Goes
Who are your top three ideal customers and what social media sites do they hang out on? If you don’t know, ask them.
Take, for instance, our buddy Jane here. She likes gourmet pasta sauce in a jar because she doesn’t like–or have time–to make her own. She works hard and appreciates good food. She finds recipes on Pinterest and then shares her favorites with close friends on Facebook.
How do we know Jane is on Pinterest and Facebook? We asked her using a survey tool like Survey Monkey.
Look at the Numbers. They Don’t Lie.
It’s also helpful to look at research data. We often reference these links when deciding on the right social media focus for our clients.
- PewResearchCenter Demographics of Key Social Networking Platforms
- SproutSocial Demographic Data for Better Segmentation Strategy (Pew data, but they make it look prettier.)
Pick Social Media Sites That Support Your Marketing Goals
Marketing goals are different from business goals. Here you decide what you want to achieve through your marketing efforts, like 12 more retail partners in the Rocky Mountain Region or three times more website sales than last year.
Once you know your goals, it’s easier to see where you need to be in social media. For instance, it’ll be easier to find grocery buyers on LinkedIn, and StumbleUpon is a great source for website traffic.
Do What Comes Easy
Love your camera phone? Choose Instagram. Are you GoPro obsessed? YouTube may be right. Each social media site has its positive attributes. Dabble in a variety of them and see what you enjoy.
There you have it. Four tips to help you choose the right social media profiles for your food business.
About Sara Lancaster
Sara is The Condiment Marketing Co.’s founder and creative director. She oversees client relationships, strategic marketing plans, as well as a bit of copywriting and social media management.
