Today’s consumers use a staggering amount of screens. In fact, it’s estimated that Millennials use three screens at any given time, and Generation Z spends time on five or more screens. In other words, if you want your message heard and seen, you must figure out how to reach these buyers on tablets, phones, televisions, laptops, and desktops.
Let’s Get Social
Not only must you become adept at multi-screen marketing, but you also have to determine which channels to use. Your target audience spends time in specific places online, and understanding where they are will help you market efficiently and effectively.
For instance, Facebook may very well be considered the universal social media platform, with users from age 18 to well over age 65 calling it home. However, even though 79% of internet users are on Facebook, it doesn’t seem to resonate as strongly with younger audiences.
Sure, teens are still on Facebook, but they prefer to share information on disappearing messaging sites like Snapchat, which boasts 79% of teens’ use. Marketers who want to reach teens are more likely to build an audience here than they will where parents see their kids’ activities.
If you’re trying to reach women, Pinterest is still the powerhouse. While the social platform may not have as many users as Facebook—only 36% of users between 18 and 29, and 34% of users between ages 30 and 49 use the site—of those users, 45% are women. It’s a good bet that you’ll build a solid female base if you’re marketing through Pinterest.
Crafting Your Message
Knowing who will receive your message on each platform is just half the battle. It’s important that you create messaging according to the audience you will find on each platform. For instance, if you’re posting on Facebook, you want to create content that poses a question. This prompts more engagement, which drives your posts to the top of users’ feeds.
Twitter doesn’t work that way. Hashtags are the best way to reach new audiences, but you don’t want to go overboard. This allows users to search by topic, which could lead them straight to your door. Proprietary hashtags are fun, but they’re only useful if you’re popular enough to prompt a search with that hashtag. Consider introducing one across several different tweets to build some recognition, but only in conjunction with more widely used search terms in your industry.
If you’re trying to reach a younger audience with Instagram, remember that imagery is your best content strategy here. In fact, you’ll only have a few lines of text visible on each post (though you can include as much as you like—just don’t expect people to read it).
Then, of course, there’s Snapchat, which has the shortest number of characters available, so your message should be almost entirely in the image you use. Short, snappy, and to the point is the best option here, considering you’re most likely dealing with an audience that has the shortest attention span to date—eight seconds.
Determining Which Is Best
You should know your brand well enough to understand which platforms work best for reaching your intended audience. Sometimes, however, your potential customer base is just too large to put in tiny baskets. If this is the case, segmenting is your only option. Create specific messages for each platform, with copy that’s crafted to speak to your intended audience there.
For instance, if you’re working to reach consumers over the age of forty, then Facebook is probably your best bet. Millennials still love Instagram, so images or short videos with brief captions could help you bring these buyers into the fold. And if you also happen to sell to Generation Z, you know they’re likely on Snapchat. An influencer campaign could help you get the attention of teens.
As you can see, the exact same message across all platforms will hit some and miss others. That’s why it’s important to understand your audience and your tools. If you need some help, we’re always here for you.
