By It almost goes without saying: every business is different. What works for you may not work for others in your community or even in your industry at large.
So when you look at the various social media platforms out there, keep in mind that they too can be radically different from one another and serve very specific purposes for the businesses that choose to use them. Some may fit what you plan to do with your marketing strategies perfectly, while others may be totally incongruent.
So in this short list, we've determined the order of usefulness for any small business looking to spread their branding to the world on social media!
1. Facebook
First of all, Facebook is the world's biggest social media platform. With close to 2 billion monthly active users, it's an inescapable fact: you must market your business on Facebook.
Fortunately, Facebook makes it easy to not only create a page and attract your current customers on their platform but also to spread word of your business to people who haven't yet heard the good news. Through clever scheduling tools and post promotion options, you can reach more people than ever in your target market.
In other words, if you don't already have a Facebook page for your business, stop what you're doing and go make one!
2. Twitter
It's not just Millennials -- everyone uses Twitter.
Why?
Because your business can join existing conversations, also known as trending topics, and have direct communication with your customers and fans.
Post (or "tweet") as many times a day as you wish! Right now, tweets are 140 characters or less. No matter your level of web savvy, you can figure out how to market your business on Twitter.
3. LinkedIn
Just a few years ago, LinkedIn was all but gone from the social media scene. You could use it to get a job (maybe), but that was about it.
Not anymore. Now, LinkedIn serves businesses as a platform for blogging and marketing like never before. Any insights your business has regarding your industry, you can share to the massive audience that has accumulated around LinkedIn and attract professionals and customers alike to your business.
The most value LinkedIn provides is absolutely for B2B industries. If you want to engage with other businesses and, indeed, other industries altogether, LinkedIn is your platform.
4. Instagram
Point and snap a picture, then post it to Instagram. It's that easy to keep your business a regular part of Instagram users' feeds.
Instagram is insanely popular because of its images-only format. Instead of lengthy posts and detailed bios, all you really need on your Instagram page is your company logo and lots of cool pictures of your business, your products, or even your employees.
So try some amateur photography out (or hire a professional to take some high-quality photos to show your business off) and share images of your business with the world.
5. YouTube
YouTube is listed here at the end because it's much more specific. Anybody can write text posts or add images to their social media page, but YouTube requires something else entirely: video.
If your company's branding and marketing strategies include video, you should definitely be on YouTube. Any original or distinctive content will attract a following and help word of your business spread.
Plus, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. There's practically no limit to the range of audience you can reach by publishing consistent content on the site.
So there you have it. Every business needs more outreach to capture more leads and generate better revenue, and with the help of these social media platforms, your marketing strategies can help you truly flourish.
For more info on digital marketing strategies, check out this recent blog post from GroupM7!
Aaron Dunn
Aaron is a writer by trade with several years of professional experience under his belt. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Before joining the Group, he worked as a freelancer and tech reviewer in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aaron currently lives in Pittsburg, TX. 
