Gone are the days when B2C (business-to-consumer) companies went knocking on doors of potential customers or B2B (business-to-business) carried their pitch decks to sell their products or services. In the age of social media, both type of businesses can utilise social media, but the question is, which platform is better?
In this blog post, we will guide and help you navigate the landscape of social media when it comes to boosting sales, whether you are a B2B or B2C company.
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Also Read: Top 5 Ways to Promote FOMO Marketing to Boost Sales
1. Facebook: The Social Media Behemoth
Facebook also known as Meta has over 2.9 billion monthly active users as of today! It is a social media behemoth with diverse demographic, hence making it perfect for both B2C and B2B companies.
- B2C Sales: Facebook is a well-known platform developed with targeting options that enable you to reach the right audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviours. B2C businesses have highlighted their product demos, customer testimonials, and behind-the-scenes glimpses to connect with potential customers. Another notable feature is Facebook Groups. Despite their plain simplicity, they are powerful, as they are filled with people sharing similar interests, allowing you to easily widen your reach. We also have Facebook Marketplace which… The Social Shopping Revolution: How Social Commerce is Reshaping Digital Marketing?
Example: Everlane, a clothing brand, utilizes Facebook to spotlight its sustainable manufacturing practices. They feature minimalistic yet eye-catching photos and videos to portray their brand as dedicated to ethical sourcing and eco-consciousness.
Credit: Everlane
- B2B Sales: For B2B companies, their main asset is the products or services. So, taking advantage of adding campaigns for webinars or demos works brilliantly in this field. Furthermore, you can share insights through articles, host a LIVE show, and more. Other things like lead generation campaigns are also interesting ways to highlight your products and services.
Example: Salesforce, a CRM software company, uses Facebook to share industry reports, host live Q&A sessions with industry experts, and target ads to marketing professionals across different industries.
Example: The CRM software company called Salesforce, uses Facebook to share industry reports, and also, hosts LIVE Q&A with industry experts. They also run ads to marketing professionals.
Credit: Salesforce
2. LinkedIn: The Professional Network
LinkedIn is a go-to platform for professionals with over 830 million users. It’s perfect for B2B sales as the target audience are mostly decision-makers, and potential business partners.
- B2B Sales: LinkedIn allows you to directly connect potential clients and build relationships. You can share industry articles, white papers, and infographics to establish as a thought leader. It has groups too; hence you can discuss or share content with other professionals.
Example: A global management consulting firm called McKinsey & Company uses LinkedIn to share thought articles on business trends, host webinars for industry professionals, and more.
Credit: McKinsey Global Institute
3. Instagram: The Power of Visuals
Instagram has about 1.2 billion active users, and the success is more due to visual storytelling. And hence, it is great for B2C companies as it uses high-quality images and videos to display your products and services.
- B2C Sales: Instagram is all about visuals, and hence great for brands who want to create a strong brand identity through photography, videography, and more though either reels, static, or carousel posts. Instagram has also introduced a feature that you can buy products directly, hence it is great for every B2C companies.
Example: The best example would be GoPro! Their feed is breath-taking highlighting the product’s capabilities from A to Z!
Credit: GoPro
4. YouTube: The Video Powerhouse
With over 2.5 billion active users monthly, YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine, a goldmine for both B2B and B2C companies. Let’s see how it benefits both sectors.
- B2C Sales: Companies selling their products or services to customers have a great leverage using YouTube, as according to the survey, 61% of customers will make a purchase decision after reading or receiving a recommendation from a brand, hence YouTube makes an excellent platform for product tutorials, customer testimonials, and explainer videos.
Example: Dollar Shave Club is a men’s grooming company. They have built top-notch branding through hilarious and informative explainer YouTube videos.
Credit: Dollar Shave Club
- B2B Sales: You can use YouTube for creating in-depth explainer videos about your products or services. You can also, share customer success stories, and host webinars to educate potential clients.
Credit: HubSpot Marketing
Example: One live example of a brand effectively using YouTube for B2B sales is HubSpot. They have created in-depth explainer videos about their marketing, sales, and customer service software solutions for B2B customers.
Final Takeaways: Choosing the Right Social Selling Platform
The social media world offers a wealth of opportunities for both B2B and B2C companies. But remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Here’s a quick recap to help you pick the perfect platform:
Platform | B2B Sales | B2C Sales |
Supreme for targeting professionals | Not suitable for B2B companies | |
Facebook Groups | Can be beneficial for niche communities | Less relevant for B2C, but can work for certain niches |
YouTube | Recommended for in-depth explainer videos | Useful for educational and entertaining content |
Less relevant for B2B, unless visual-heavy niche | Prioritized for visually driven audiences | |
Offers wide demographic and excellent ad targeting | Useful for B2C sales with specific targeting |
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