This information is from our social media workshops taught by Dara Gourley.
How to use Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest
1 billion users
What can you do on Facebook?
You can engage your community.
Who can you target?
It’s pretty close, but there are slightly more women on Facebook. Pretty much everyone over 18 is on Facebook so you can reach any segment between age 18-65.
When should you post?
For businesses, you can post Monday through Friday during work hours, best in the afternoon from 12-6 pm. The sweet spot for maximum engagement is 3pm and there’s a 10% happiness spike on Fridays.
How do you do it?
The campaign goals on Facebook are to earn page follows, likes, comments and shares. Be sure to use your hashtags (#). Be sure to check the page regularly and respond to direct messages/notifications.
560 million users
What can you do on Twitter?
You can share your news in a micro-blogging style format. Post links to articles, videos
Who can you target?
There are more men on Twitter. The audience is primarily comprised of 18-29 year olds, but also does a good job of reaching 30-45 year olds.
When should you post?
For businesses, you can post Wednesday through Sunday during work hours, 9 am-7 pm.
How do you do it?
The campaign goals on Twitter are to earn followers, mentions (when someone uses @yourbusiness in their tweet), comments and shares. Be sure to use your hashtags (#) and mention (@) your customers and business partners.
Google+
400 million users
What can you do on Google+?
You can improve your search engine optimization (SEO), especially locally, by posting content to Google+.
Who can you target?
Google+ is predominantly men, age 18-44.
When should you post?
For businesses, you can post Monday through Friday, 9 am-7 pm.
How do you do it?
The campaign goals on Google+ are to earn views, likes (+1s) and shares. You can segment your customers into circles. You can follow business pages and people. Be sure to use your hashtags (#) and mention (+) your customers and business partner pages.
300 million users
What can you do on LinkedIn?
You can grow your business network.
Who can you target?
LinkedIn has more men and it skews the oldest of the social media networks with the majority of their users age 30-64.
When should you post?
You should post Tuesday through Thursday during work hours, 9 am-7 pm.
How do you do it?
The campaign goals on LinkedIn are to earn comments likes and shares. You can join and post about your business products and services in select discussion groups. Be sure to use your tags on your posts and include your hashtags (#) too. (Shhh…posts get more reach than shares.)
150 million users
What can you do on Instagram?
You can tell your story in photos and 15 sec videos.
Who can you target?
Instagram is split down the middle with men and women. It skews on the young side at age 18-29.
When should you post?
Since Instagram is a mobile app, you should always post after work hours. Monday evenings are a sweet spot for engagement.
How do you do it?
The campaign goals on Instagram are to earn views, likes and shares. Be sure to use your hashtags (#).
70 million users
What can you do on Pinterest?
Influence people to buy your products on Pinterest by creating dynamite pin boards.
Who can you target?
Pinterest is full of aspirational, principal shoppers, women, age 18-49. Men who like fashion, cars, motorcycles, art and DIY home remodeling are also on Pinterest.
When should you post?
You should post on Pinterest Wednesday through Sunday, 2-4 pm.
How do you do it?
The campaign goals on Pinterest are to earn pins (someone puts your photo on their pin board), pin likes and comments. Be sure to use your hashtags (#).
Sources: 2015 AdWeek, HubSpot and Pew Research Center