Navigating the social media landscape can be challenging for marketers and business owners alike. With numerous platforms to choose from—each boasting its own unique audience, features, and best practices—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve created this concise, three-part cheat sheet. By breaking down critical information such as posting frequency, content strategies, follower growth tactics, optimal posting times, and key metrics to track, these tables make it simple to compare platforms side by side. Use this resource to quickly identify the best channels for your brand’s goals, refine your content approach, and ultimately build a more effective social media marketing strategy.
Cheat Sheet 1: Facebook & Instagram
|
Facebook |
Instagram |
| Which Platforms to Choose? |
Great for broad audiences, community building, and local businesses. |
Ideal for visual storytelling, lifestyle, beauty, fashion, and food niches. |
| How Often to Post? |
1–2 times per day or a few times per week. |
3–5 times per week; daily for Stories if possible. |
| What Types of Content Work Best? |
Short videos, memes, polls, live streams, and longer, conversational text posts. |
High-quality photos, Reels, Stories, carousel posts, user-generated images. |
| How to Grow Followers Organically? |
Encourage shares & UGC, run contests, create niche-focused Pages/Groups. |
Collaborate with influencers, leverage branded content, and engage actively in comments & DMs. |
| Best Times to Post? |
Mid-week (Tues–Thurs), late mornings (9–11 AM) or early afternoons (12–2 PM). |
Mornings (8–10 AM) or evenings (7–9 PM), but verify your specific audience analytics. |
| Which Metrics to Track? |
Reach, impressions, engagement rate, CTR, conversions. |
Likes, comments, saves, Story views, follower growth, link |
Cheat Sheet 2: LinkedIn & YouTube
|
LinkedIn |
YouTube |
| Which Platforms to Choose? |
Best for B2B, professional networking, thought leadership, and recruiting. |
Great for long-form video, tutorials, reviews, vlogs, and educational content. |
| How Often to Post? |
1–2 times per week, focusing on quality and consistency. |
1–4 times per month (or weekly); consistency in posting schedule is crucial. |
| What Types of Content Work Best? |
Long-form posts, articles, industry insights, professional videos, company updates. |
Tutorials, how-tos, product demos, interviews, webinars, entertaining vlogs. |
| How to Grow Followers Organically? |
Optimize your personal and company page, share valuable insights, join LinkedIn Groups. |
Optimize titles, thumbnails, tags, and descriptions; engage with viewers in comments. |
| Best Times to Post? |
Weekdays (Tues–Thurs), mornings (8–10 AM) or around lunch (12–2 PM). |
Often Thursdays–Sundays; posting in the afternoon or early evening can be effective. |
| Which Metrics to Track? |
Post views, engagement (likes/comments), clicks, new connections, InMail response rates. |
Watch time, average view duration, subscriber growth, CTR on thumbnails. |
Cheat Sheet 3: TikTok & Snapchat
|
TikTok |
Snapchat |
| Which Platforms to Choose? |
Ideal for short, creative, viral video content appealing to younger demographics. |
Appeals to younger audiences; ephemeral content is perfect for behind-the-scenes promotions. |
| How Often to Post? |
Daily or several times weekly; consistency helps with algorithm favorability. |
Post short snaps daily or a few times per week to maintain visibility. |
| What Types of Content Work Best? |
Short, snappy videos, trending challenges, dances, comedic or educational “snackable” clips. |
Quick behind-the-scenes, polls, AR filters/lenses, ephemeral promos, mini-stories. |
| How to Grow Followers Organically? |
Jump on trends early, use trending music, partner with influencers, and engage in comments. |
Provide exclusive codes, maintain streaks, partner with influencers for takeovers. |
| Best Times to Post? |
Evenings (6–10 PM) and weekends often see higher engagement. |
Peak usage often late evenings (8–11 PM). |
| Which Metrics to Track? |
Views, watch time, shares, follower growth, engagement rate (likes/comments). |
Views, screenshots, story completion rate, direct snap replies. |
