• What Social Networking Platform is the Best for Your Golf Course?

    Kierstyn Howell  •  May 9, 2017

Social media has paved a new way to generate buzz for businesses everywhere.  Over 90 percent of marketing companies apply the tool of social networking.  There is no better way to reach an audience than targeting them on platforms you know they are interacting with.  Social media has a resourceful way of gaining the reader’s attention, more so, than a commercial or billboard that people have become more immune to throughout the years.

There are an endless amount of ways to reach your customers through social media.  You have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, the list goes on and on.  But this now deems the question, out of all the social networking services, which one is right for your company?

Social Media Platforms

The big picture to look at is who is your target audience and how to reach them in large quantities.  It is never a bad idea to have more than one social networking site to market your business, but make sure you have the manpower to control it. It’s better to have one properly managed social media outlet, than 5 that you never tend to.  Though, before getting ahead of yourself let’s start off with picking out the perfect match for your company.

Facebook

Facebook is a great way to reach a large volume of people at one time, since it is the number one site for most active users.  Facebook contains a variety of age groups with 70% of them being adult online users.  This will most likely be your main target group for consistent customers. Over 80% of online adults in the US use Facebook, which is unlike any other social media platform. Just keep in mind that competition is high within this networking site, but having all the tools necessary to have a social media campaign will allow you to conquer the posts of millions. One of our favorite features of Facebook is its versatility. You can set targeting parameters to reach millions or just a handful of people, all from the same place.

What it’s good for:

  • Brand awareness
  • Customer Service
  • Marketing to ages 25 - 54
  • Reaching the masses
  • Targeting specific groups of people
  • Selling memberships or event space

Who is it good for:

Facebook is still the social media king. Every golf course should be on Facebook and posting regularly. With the ability to schedule posts and automate much of the work, there’s little excuse to not use Facebook to your advantage.

Twitter

Twitter has become another way to gain information fast for users.  Many of them are of the younger generation, but they are following mostly for updates on what is going on in the world around them.  This site is less of a task to interact with friends or family and more so to follow businesses and people who have something significant to say.  This gives your business amble opportunity to keep your customers informed within 140 characters and room for a visual. Twitter takes a lot of time to manage successfully, as most popular twitter accounts post multiple times daily and interact with followers in a timely fashion.

What it’s good for:

  • Interacting with customers
  • Marketing to ages 25 - 44
  • Brand awareness
  • Customer service

Who is it good for:

Twitter is great for the course operator that enjoys social media and interacting with customers. Twitter takes a lot of your attention and time, but your customers will appreciate the fact that you’re willing to reply to their tweets.

Instagram

Instagram is one of the fastest growing social media platforms, specifically for youth and young adults.  But be aware that photographs and videos are the main service this site revolves around.  Visuals are key when creating your social media post, this is what first catches the readers eye.  If you choose to create an account, make sure to link it to your Facebook or Twitter account to gain better recognition. Instagram’s is a very simple social media platform, with limited functionality and, oftentimes, no need for words.

What it’s good for:

  • Brand awareness
  • Getting creative
  • Reaching young audiences

Who it’s good for:

Instagram is great for golf facilities located near colleges or that know they have a younger audience. The vast majority of Instagram users are between the ages of 18 and 29. A facility with great scenery or a creative vision could do well on Instagram.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great social media account to have if you want to become more involved with the business-to-business aspect of marketing.  Here you will find a more efficient way to network with other companies and provide insight.  For golf courses, LinkedIn can be used to find new talent and recruit knowledgeable, experienced staff. It can also be used to find local CEOs and leaders for possible corporate golf memberships.

What it’s good for:

  • Recruiting staff
  • Targeting executives

Who it’s good for:

LinkedIn is primarily just a great recruiting tool for a golf course operator.

Deciding Factors

Once you have the background knowledge on what these social networks have to offer your target audience, your decision becomes easier.  But before you come to a final conclusion, analyze these questions to make sure you have your perfect fit:

  • Are my customers on this network?
  • Do I have the correct information to fulfill the post requirements?
  • Do I have the time to remain consistent with this network?

Putting all your resources together and taking the time to think through this decision can benefit your company in the long run.  The time and effort you put into every post will be valued by placing it on the correct network with the appropriate audience.  Happy Networking!

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