Not all social media sites are made equally.
Although Instagram may be a powerhouse for one brand, it will be useless for another – and while one company may have a lot of interaction on Facebook, another may gain more popularity on LinkedIn.
With that in mind, how do you decide where to make investments in your time (and possibly your advertising dollars)?
The best strategy is to have a presence on all of the main channels and then strategically decide which ones to focus on.
In our social media guide, we’ll go through each of the seven main social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Reddit.
You’ll also learn what types of content work best on each network and get practical advice on how to take your social media marketing to the next level.
Let’s take a quick look at each of these networks before we get started.
- Base of operations: Menlo Park, California
- Founded in the year 2004 with 2.45 billion monthly active users as of today.
This original social media platform is tried and true, and no matter what business you’re trying to make investments in, Facebook has a place for you. Financial services, e-commerce, retail, gaming, entertainment, media, telecom, technology, consumer goods, and automotive businesses are among the most common industries on Facebook. Although business posts are gradually being suppressed in the News Feed, there are still ways to increase interaction without spending money on advertising. Consider joining (or creating) communities, using a Facebook Messenger chatbot, or using live video to increase your participation.
- Base of operations: Menlo Park, California
- Launched in 2010 with 1 billion active users as of today.
Instagram is credited for a veritable feast of eye-catching images and creative inspiration. It’s also a social media platform for product-based companies, influencers, and coaches. After introducing shoppable posts in 2018, the potential ROI for product-based businesses has increased dramatically – not only can B2Bs interact with a large audience, but they can also link product details and sales directly from Instagram. It is a gold mine if the target audience is under 35, since the majority of users are between the ages of 18 and 34, with a nearly equal number of male and female users.
- Base of operations: San Francisco, California
- In 2005, the company was founded and it now has430 million monthly active users.
Reddit bills itself as “the internet’s front page.” It is credited as one of the top 20 most-visited websites, according to Alexa rankings. With over 150,000 communities dedicated to any subject imaginable, Reddit has a unique mix of content and culture. With so many niches, every brand and company can find a home – it’s just a matter of identifying the ones where your target customers are involved and diving in with investments.
Snapchat
- Base of operations: Los Angeles, California
- Founded in 2011 with 360 million monthly users.
You should undoubtedly use Snapchat if your target audience is young. Snapchat’s most active users are 13-year-olds who spend upwards of 30 minutes a day on the app. You’ll find user-generated content, behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive deals, and influencer takeovers abound on Snapchat.
- Base of operations: San Francisco, California
- In 2006, the company was founded and it now has 330 million monthly active users.
Since Twitter is fast-paced and always updated, certain businesses flourish there with multiple investments. If you work in the entertainment, sports, politics, or marketing sectors, you have a good chance of being noticed on Twitter. On this platform, brands can refine and craft their voice, being both informative and compassionate while remaining clever and personable. Jump into threads, add value, share your own and others’ content, and provide value to contribute to the never-ending conversation.
- Base of operations: San Francisco, California
- Founded in 2010 with 322 million active monthly users as of today.
Fashion, food, decor, wedding, exercise, and DIY-related pins are among the most common on Pinterest. Furthermore, anything with a lot of visual appeals will excel on this platform. Eighty-one percent of Pinterest users are female, which is an excellent justification to make an investment in social media ads on Pinterest if you have a primarily female audience. That isn’t to suggest men don’t use Pinterest. In reality, men account for 40% of new Pinterest signups.
- Base of operations: Mountain View, California
- Founded in the year 2003 with 310 million monthly active users as of today.
LinkedIn has more than 61 million users in senior roles among its vast network of professionals. It is the place to be if you’re looking for decision-makers who can recruit your team, stock your product, or make investments with you. Did you know that 44% of LinkedIn users earn more than the national average? Or that LinkedIn is used by more than half of all Americans with a college diploma? It might not be the most flashy social media platform, but it offers limitless opportunities to communicate with a select community of professionals who can help your company succeed.
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