Twitter struggles to match engagement found on other networks, study finds

Twitter struggles to match engagement found on other networks, study finds
For advisors, LinkedIn and Facebook were far better for generating interactions than Twitter.
JUN 16, 2023

Financial advisors may want to rethink how important Twitter is to their overall digital marketing strategy.

Twitter posts produced the lowest engagement of any social network studied in Hearsay Systems’ 2023 Financial Services Social Selling Content Study, which analyzed 16.3 million published posts from more than 100 global financial services firms. Across text, images and video, Twitter garnered far less engagement than posts on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook.

For example, text-only posts drove the highest average rate of engagement, 4.4, across all lines of business Hearsay studied. On Twitter, the most successful text-only earned an engagement rate of just 0.1 And those tweets came from property and casualty insurance firms; posts from other lines of business fared worse. Asset managers were able to drive an engagement rate of 1.5 for tweets with images, far below what firms were able to accomplish with Facebook videos (5.6) or text-only LinkedIn posts (5.2).

LinkedIn reigns supreme for wealth management firms. Text-only posts from advisors earned an 11.9 engagement rate, while similar posts on Facebook earned a 9.9 rate, Hearsay reported. On Instagram, advisors’ video posts earned twice as much engagement as images.

While LinkedIn and Facebook are most used social channels across financial services, hosting nearly 91% of all posts Hearsay measured, Instagram delivered the best engagement.

Overall engagement on social media surged 23% across social media networks, types of posts and lines of business, Leslie Leach, chief marketing and strategy officer of Hearsay Systems, said in a statement.

“Consumers are increasingly seeking information, guidance, and support from agents and advisors through social channels,” Leach said. “Simultaneously, advisors have grown more adept at using social channels for networking, requesting referrals, and conducting other business-building activities that used to be done in person, by phone, or over email.”

The amount of original content published — which Hearsay defines as posts wholly created by an advisor or agent –— surged by 55%. Unsurprisingly, these posts resonate better with an advisor’s audience, generating nearly eight times the average engagement, Hearsay found.

How to find the right funds for your clients without wasting time

Latest News

SEC fines Zoe Financial $450K over undisclosed referral conflict
SEC fines Zoe Financial $450K over undisclosed referral conflict

Salespeople at the firm often went beyond the matching algorithm to recommend network advisors on its Zoe Wealth platform, according to the regulator.

Senate vote on NIL bill could reshape college athletes' paydays
Senate vote on NIL bill could reshape college athletes' paydays

The Protect College Sports Act would cap school payments and codify NIL rights, with implications for advisors guiding young athletes.

'I'm done': Pandemic memories push business owners toward the exit
'I'm done': Pandemic memories push business owners toward the exit

"I know the number that I want to be able to retire on, and now I just want out," says Wilmington Trust's Marguerite Weese, describing a common refrain among business-owner clients.

Northern Trust bulks up family office team with New York hires
Northern Trust bulks up family office team with New York hires

Bessemer and Brown Brothers Harriman veteran Robert Ludricks III and private markets specialist Olof Akesson join the ultra-high-net-worth push on the East Coast.

SEC accuses trucking operator of running $127 million Ponzi scheme
SEC accuses trucking operator of running $127 million Ponzi scheme

765 investors were promised 260% annual returns on truck leases

SPONSORED In the Age of AI, Trust Becomes the Advisor's Greatest Asset

As AI makes financial information more accessible than ever, Lana Hock explains why human judgment, trust, and empathy remain the qualities clients value most in a financial advisor

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains