When Should Your Business Post on Social Media?

Businesses are always seeking ideas to improve their social media engagement. Knowing the best days and times to post on every platform will boost activity on your company pages. Posting at certain times will allow you to further connect with your target audience.

There are some general rules that are important to follow for all platforms, however, each social media has its own specific guidelines. It is also important to factor in your target audience when deciding when to post on each platform. For instance, a younger audience may not be awake very early if they are on summer break.

The General Rule

The American Marketing Association recommends that for any social media platform, posting on a weekday morning is the route to go. Many people go on their phones as soon as they wake up, especially on work days. 

Data-driven decision-making is vital when it comes to social media posting. Utilize analytics and insights provided by the respective platforms to evaluate your previous posts' performance. Identify patterns and trends related to engagement levels, clicks, and impressions during different times and days. Leveraging this information will guide you in optimizing your posting schedule.

Instagram

Instagram has changed ever since Facebook acquired the platform. According to the American Marketing Association, to be successful on Instagram, post between 11:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. on any weekday (Monday-Friday), will get you higher numbers for your posts and stories. 

Facebook

While all weekday mornings are a good time to post, it is best to post on Facebook between 9:00 A.M.- 1:00 P.M. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Business pages can also try generating engagement between 6:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M., according to SocialPilot. There is a pop in users during these hours. If not early morning, lunch hours are another option to post.

Twitter

Twitter's fast-paced nature demands frequent and timely posts. Hootsuite noted that the best time to tweet on Twitter is at 8:00 A.M on Monday-Friday. Many people will turn to Twitter before they even get to Instagram or Facebook, as it is a simpler social media platform that appeals to those who are looking for breaking news or updates from those they follow.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great platform for businesses, as it can attract future employers, partnerships, and set the tone of their company in a professional manner. The best times to post on LinkedIn are at 9:00 A.M. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, right when the typical workday starts. Avoid weekends and late evenings when engagement tends to drop.

In Conclusion

The best time to post for your business’s social media depends on your target audience, your industry, and your content. Mastering the art of social media posting requires businesses to be in sync with their audience's habits and preferences. By analyzing data, understanding the nuances of each platform, and adapting to trends, businesses can unlock the full potential of their social media presence. However, posting at these recommended days and times can help to ensure that as many people as possible see and engage with what you’re promoting.

Storytelling: A Powerful Marketing Tool

One of the most compelling elements of good marketing communications is storytelling. Storytelling is a powerful tool that can persuade people to take action or learn about something new. In fact, for nonprofit organizations, studies show that donors are twice as likely to donate to a nonprofit when presented with a compelling story as opposed to a relevant statistic.

This is because stories leverage emotions to your benefit and illustrate the impact of your product, service, or work. Individuals are more likely to remember an inspiring story as opposed to a number or figure, no matter how remarkable the statistic is.

When telling stories, create ones that are educational, entertaining, memorable, and compelling. Focus on quality writing and use interesting visual elements to best execute this communication strategy.

Keep your audience in mind when creating stories. What do they want to hear and learn? What kind of response or action do you want them to take as a result of reading your story?

Find ways to best connect with your target audience by telling stories that are inspiring, touching, and ones that illustrate the benefits of your products or services.

How will you tell your story? Whether it’s a written article, blog post, video or audio clip, consider what medium your audience will respond best to and what fits into your budget.

Gather stories from as many different types of people associated with your organization as possible. Clients, volunteers, employees, board members all have different perspectives and may have valuable messages and stories that can be impactful for your organization.

Share in the comments how you have incorporated storytelling in your marketing communications and what the results have yielded.

Reasons to Start an E-Newsletter for Your Business

If you’re looking for ways to build trust and credibility with your prospects and clients, publishing an e-newsletter is a smart tool to consider.  A balanced, informative newsletter should support your business goals, be engaging to your readers, and provide useful content or relevant promotions.

Here are six reasons to get your e-newsletter up and running now:

1. Build Relationships-  A newsletter can provide the opportunity to connect with your audiences by consistently providing valuable content while also keeping them engaged and interested. Relationships require work and regular connections. An e-newsletter can help you accomplish that.

2. Establish Your Expertise- By sharing industry news, insights and tips in your newsletter, you can establish yourself as a thought leader or expert.

3. Cost-Effective Marketing- E-newsletters require a minimal investment beyond time and effort! Tools like Constant Contact offer newsletter email templates that are easy to use and inexpensive.

4. Brand Awareness-  E-newsletters are a smart way to increase knowledge of your brand by regularly staying in touch with your clients and prospects and reminding them of your business, product or services.

5. Collect Valuable Feedback- Include survey questions or polls in your e-newsletter to better understand your audience and improve your offerings to them.

6. Drive Traffic to Your Site- E-newsletters should be kept brief and lead your reader to your website, blog or a landing page where they can find more information.

Your customers and prospects want to hear from you! So are you ready to take the next steps to start your e-newsletter?  Now that you know how they can help your business, it’s time to incorporate one into your own marketing strategy!