As of January 2020, Statistica reports that Facebook remains the most popular social media site in the world, and was the first social channel to reach 1 billion accounts.

And while some other applications like WhatsApp and TikTok have sprung into popularity in the past few years, it’s no surprise that three key platforms continue to dominate.

Here are the number of monthly active users for key social sites as of January 2020 (via Statistica):

• Facebook: 2.45 billion
• Instagram: 1 billion
• YouTube: 2 billion

This is good news for your business!

Read on for a few ideas of how to use these sites to build and grow your business in 2020!

1. Facebook Ads

Facebook ads are still one of the most effective ways of marketing your business as of 2020
They allow you to target your audience based on what they’re searching for.

So for instance, if someone recently looked up “best skincare products” and you’ve targeted your ad accordingly, they should see your ad on their Facebook feed.

According to Hootsuite, about 87% of marketers in the US will use the platform to market their products and services in 2020.

In light of the fact that personalized marketing is becoming increasingly necessary, they have also recently introduced a way to make your Facebook Ads more personalized.

For more social media marketing ideas, here are 21 clever ways to attract more readers and boost blog traffic this year.

2. Use Video as Part of Your Social Media Marketing Strategy

Video is really the king of content these days, and for good reason: it’s personal, easy to use, and good for SEO.

Data from Cisco suggests that by 2021, 80% of traffic will consist of video, and Hootsuite claims that twice as many people watched product videos in 2018 than 2017.

Have you made video part of your content strategy yet? Learn How to Leverage Video Content on Your Blog for SEO. 

3. Instagram Stories

Instagram stories are 24-hour snippets of live video which you can use in a variety of ways to help build brand awareness and trust.

They are simple to view and use: all you need to do is log into Instagram, and find the circles at the top of the screen.

Click on “your story,” (the top left “circle”) and get creative!

Here are some examples of good ways to use Instagram Stories:

• Share a new blog
• Promote a new product
• Introduce a staff member
• Talk about something you learned today

This is one social media marketing tool where the possibilities are truly endless, and it’s one of the best ways to get “up close and personal” with your customers!

(P.S. You can use Stories on Facebook, too!)

4. Use Twitter Strategically

If you’re still wondering what Twitter does and how to use it, here are a few things to try which can help you build a following and generate brand awareness.

Microblogging

Microblogging is exactly what it sounds like: creating short, written posts which can be combined with various forms of media.

Twitter is really the key platform for microblogging, but it’s not a bad idea to generate a bunch of short, punchy posts in advance and have them at-the-ready so that you can stay in the conversation on any social media channel.

Engaging with Influencers

Following your influencers on Twitter might be fun, but actually engaging with them is what counts.

Take this Jimmy Fallon Tweet, for instance: A quick little response using this hashtag could get you on the show!

The key here is to find influencers who are relevant to your niche or industry, then connect with them by following them and liking, commenting on, and sharing their posts.

Cross Promoting & Media Mentions

When using Twitter, be sure to use the @ sign to mention other media outlets — for instance, if you have a guest post or interview.

This type of cross-promotion can work wonders for your authority and help attract more relevant followers.

If you want help building an exceptional library of content to base your social media marketing on, we can help!

Want to make your blog stand out? Email us to set up a quick call so we can learn more.

Want to be able to write like a pro? Download our Ultimate Writing Template.

Enjoy this article? Here are 3 more articles to help you get your blog working for you:

7 Ways to Make Your Blog Stand Out from the Crowd by Being Different
11 Blogging Statistics That Might Surprise You
How to start a blog post – 5 examples that really work!

This article was originally published on March 7, 2017, and has since been updated.