Which social media platform is best for you?

42130779_SMost business people see the importance of social media but don’t have the time or the resources to conquer them all. Here’s a little cheat sheet to help you narrow down the social channel that is best for you:

Facebook. Every business person should be on Facebook, no matter what field you’re in. It has the most widespread demographic of any social media platform, which makes it the best place to increase your brand awareness. In addition, Facebook ad targeting allows you to reach out to prospective customers by location, gender, age, likes and interests, relationship status, workplace and education level.

The only real downside of Facebook is that younger generations are becoming more and more leery of it, thanks to an increase in use from older generations. Using Facebook to target younger demographics can work, but there are other platforms more suitable for reaching that audience.

Twitter. Users are more likely to follow brands on Twitter than on any other platform. This is because Twitter provides the most up-to-date information. If you like to frequently post updates and information, this is the platform for you.

Instagram. If you are in a very visual industry, you should be on Instagram. The downside? Only 17 percent of U.S. adults are on the site, and it’s a very specific group of individuals — the dominant demographic is between the ages of 18 and 29. You also need to consider the time it takes to make your photos stand out. You shouldn’t post poor-quality photos, and if you rush into Instagram posting without putting in the time, you could cause unintentional damage.

LinkedIn. It’s the leading professional network on the web. It’s great for keeping current on the latest in your industry and building a nationwide or even global network of professionals in your industry and others. LinkedIn has several tools that can help you build a professional brand.