Do You Really Know Your Target Audience?
Like most smart and evolving companies these days, you’ve probably already jumped on the social media bandwagon. Having your business present on various media channels of course has its advantages—it’s a smart and strategic way to share useful information, get the word out about your business, and engage your target demographic in a meaningful two-way conversation. But before investing a lot of time and energy into your social networks, have you ever asked yourself which ones were truly relevant to your business? We bet not.
To make your social media efforts efficient and productive, you need to identify who your target audience really is. That means you’ll have to a little good old fashioned research to figure out which social media networks are ultimately worth using. I’ll give you a generous hint…the ones your target audience are using!
Trying to rub shoulders with real industry professionals? Try LinkedIn. If your target market includes males between the ages of 25 and 34, try Google+. If you’re looking for mainstream consumers, give Twitter and Facebook a shot.
Here’s a handy infographic that shows who’s using what (focusing on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace):
Here are some more statistics you may want to consider in your research:
Social Media Users by Gender:
- Twitter – male = 48%, female = 52%
- Facebook- male = 46%, female = 54%
- Google+ – male= 63%, female = 37%
*source: Flowtown
Social Media Age Demographic
- 35+ demographic represents 30% of Facebook Users
- 77% of LinkedIn Users are 25
*source: onlineschools.com, mindflash.com
Top Occupations on Google+
- Student
- Software Engineer
- Consultant
- Manager
- Photographer
- Software Developer
- Designer
- Marketing
- Teacher
- Graphic Design
*source: findpeopleonplus.com
It’s important to set goals for your social media efforts, but it’s also important to know what you’re going to do with your “following” once you reach that goal if you want to stand out from the crowd. Adding real value to the content you put out will keep people coming back for more and improve your business relationships. Want to have less people tuning out to your social media channels and more listening in? Here’s how:
- GIVE THE FOLKS WHAT THEY WANT – EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!
Content is key. You’ve heard it before and we’re telling you again. People love original, engaging and helpful material, so give it to them! - CREATE VALUE
Cut out the “me, me, me” lingo and pay attention to your audience. Their needs and desires should be your foremost priority. Start off by offering exclusive sales and discounts, useful information, awesome customer service, and maybe even fun contests with cool prizes. We guarantee they’ll be coming back for more. - BE WHAT YOUR FOLLOWERS WANT
Use your own voice, be honest and show a little personality. Your audience will appreciate it. Start meaningful conversations and invite others to participate, and always remember to stay relevant and active.
Good luck with your social networking efforts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter
