The Social Media Platforms That Drive Sales—And the Ones That Waste Your Time

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re spending too much time on the wrong social media platforms, you probably are.

Because let’s be real—some platforms look good on the surface but don’t actually move the needle when it comes to revenue. Others? They quietly generate consistent, high-quality leads and sales for businesses that use them the right way.

So today, let’s break it all the way down: which platforms actually drive sales and which ones are just an engagement trap (aka digital busywork).

If you’re in service-based business, coaching, or consulting, your best platforms might be completely different from someone in e-commerce or product-based sales—so I’ll highlight where each business type should focus.

Platforms That Actually Drive Sales

YouTube – The Evergreen Sales Machine

?? Best for: High-ticket services, course creators, e-commerce, software companies, and B2B businesses.

YouTube is not just a video platform—it’s a search engine. The second biggest search engine in the world, right after Google. If someone is watching a 20-minute video about solving a problem, there’s a good chance they’re ready to invest in a solution.

Why It Drives Sales:

• YouTube videos stay relevant for years, unlike Instagram posts that disappear in a few days.
• It builds trust and authority—people spend time with your content before they ever buy.
• Video content boosts conversions—viewers are 64% more likely to buy after watching a branded video.

Who Should Focus Here?

• Service-based businesses: Post educational content and thought leadership videos.
• Product-based businesses: Use product demos, tutorials, and customer reviews.
• Coaches & Consultants: Leverage long-form videos to build authority and convert leads.

Time Commitment: Medium-High (but long-term impact makes it worth it).

Pinterest – The Hidden Goldmine for Long-Term Traffic & Sales

?? Best for: E-commerce, service-based businesses, course creators, and content-driven brands.

Most people sleep on Pinterest because they think it’s just for wedding inspo and DIY crafts. Wrong.

Pinterest is one of the highest-converting platforms because it’s search-based, not just social. People come to Pinterest ready to take action.

Why It Drives Sales:

• Pinterest posts (pins) last forever—unlike Instagram, which dies in 24-48 hours.
• People use it to make buying decisions (80% of weekly Pinterest users have discovered a new brand or product there).
• Traffic from Pinterest converts better than almost any other social media platform.

Who Should Focus Here?

• Coaches & course creators: Pinterest is powerful for driving traffic to lead magnets, blogs, and offers.
• E-commerce brands: Pins drive long-term product sales.
• Local businesses & service providers: People use Pinterest to search for solutions in their area.

Time Commitment: Low (you can schedule pins in advance and let them drive traffic for months).

LinkedIn – B2B Lead Gen & Authority Building

?? Best for: B2B businesses, service providers, and high-ticket consultants.

LinkedIn is the best platform for generating B2B leads. People are in a business mindset while scrolling, which means less resistance to investing in professional services.

Why It Drives Sales:

• B2B buyers are 2x more likely to buy from someone they engage with on LinkedIn.
• Organic reach is still strong (compared to Facebook and Instagram, which throttle reach).
• Decision-makers actively look for solutions on LinkedIn—so being visible here matters.

Who Should Focus Here?

• Coaches & consultants: Share expertise & attract high-ticket clients.
• B2B businesses & service providers: Generate inbound leads through content & connections.
• Personal brands & thought leaders: Establish authority & drive conversations.

Time Commitment: Medium (but high return if done strategically).

Instagram – The Engagement Powerhouse (When Used Right)

?? Best for: Service-based businesses, coaches, and personal brands.

Instagram doesn’t drive direct sales as easily as the other platforms listed above, but it’s still a crucial relationship-building tool. People buy from people they trust. And Instagram is all about building that trust through consistent content and connection.

Why It Drives Sales:

• Stories & DMs create personal engagement (where most conversions happen).
• Reels & short-form video drive brand awareness.
• Trust factor—people are more likely to buy from brands they see consistently.

Who Should Focus Here?

• Coaches & service providers: Use Instagram to warm up leads before converting them via email/DMs.
• Personal brands & solopreneurs: Build authority & visibility.
• E-commerce brands: Use Instagram Shopping for direct sales.

Time Commitment: Medium-High (daily engagement is key).

? Platforms That Waste Your Time (For Sales, At Least)

Twitter (X) – Good for Engagement, Bad for Sales

? Great for brand awareness and building relationships.

? Not great for direct sales unless you’re selling digital products to an audience already engaged in the Twitter community.

TikTok – Viral? Yes. Converting? Not Always.

? Amazing for brand visibility.

? Short attention span users = harder conversions unless you have a strong CTA strategy in place.

Facebook (Organic) – RIP Organic Reach

? Good for Facebook Groups & community building.

? Not effective for organic reach anymore—pay-to-play model dominates.

Stop Spinning Your Wheels on the Wrong Platforms

?? If you’re service-based? Prioritize LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

?? Selling products? Invest in Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram Shopping.

?? B2B? Go all in on LinkedIn & YouTube.

Want to simplify your content strategy? Download my free Content Strategy Cheatsheet—so you can spend time on what actually moves the needle.

?? Download the Content Strategy Cheatsheet ??

Where are you currently spending your time? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear what’s working for you!

About Me

I’m Shalea Brown, the founder of The Content Amplifier, and I help entrepreneurs and businesses amplify their voices without burning out. My work focuses on content strategy, digital marketing, and brand visibility—because your message deserves to be heard, and your business should work for you (not the other way around).

Let’s connect and make marketing work smarter, not harder. ??