Do You Tweet or Post?

               Or do you both? Which is better for your business? Look at your goals to decide where to focus your efforts. Many of you have long established businesses Your goal isn’t brand awareness, but driving clientele to your products or services. For some of you, it’s all about creating an awareness of who you are and what you offer. Let’s begin with a review of the two platforms.

               Twitter is like a fast-moving stream. Images you post are here, but not for long. If you want to grain traction with a great tidbit of information or sale, it may not be your first choice. It’s perfect for a quick look, snagging attention and flash notices. Facebook postings remain in circulation for a longer period of time, so announcements and sales will be visible whenever your audience tunes in. That’s quite an advantage.

Both Twitter and Facebook attract a certain swath of the Blue Springs audience. According to latest statistics, more than 75% of users range from 18 to 49 in age. These represent a working audience, but one with lots of bills to pay. In contrast, the 2021 statistics of Facebook users suggest that people 18 to 34 are the lion’s share of followers. But don’t let these statistics fool you: Facebook is still the most prominent social media platform. Sprout Social claims more than 2 billion people are active on Facebook regularly, compared to 330 million on Twitter…but look at their statistics a little more closely.

They show 83% of the world’s leaders are on Twitter. They also suggest Twitter is the platform of choice for millennials. So my question is simple: Who are you wanting to reach, and how powerful is your message? It might be helpful to conduct a short poll of our own Chamber members. How many of you are on Facebook regularly and how many of you are on Twitter? The answer I want to hear is that all of you are one or the other or both.

Me? I’m a Facebook gal. I find the rapidity of the changing platform of Twitter disconcerting. When I do post, I like to post something of value, so I want it to stick around awhile. Most of all, I don’t want to be connected to my device with an umbilical cord, so when I post I want it to stick around while I’m busy running my business…I’m guessing most of us would line up as Facebook users over Twitter lovers.

Making the most of social media, however much we may not like it, is part of running a successful business. Overarching tips: stay out of politics. Be professional. Offer value. Make more engaging posts than salesy posts. Be a friend. These are the hallmarks of broadening your business on social media. The important point? Make social media your home away from home in building your business.