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There are a lot of social media apps and sites on the internet. But have you thought about which are the current top ones? Suppose you are a business owner looking to expand your business outreach, or you are simply here because of curiosity. This article will provide you with the top 12 social media sites and which are the best for marketing purposes. You might have heard of most of them, yet some might even surprise you.
Top Social Media Apps
1) Facebook
Facebook is arguably one of the most recognizable brands in the world, let alone social media apps. Facebook is one of the pioneers when it comes to mainstream social media. Despite its controversies when it was founded in 2004, it gained huge traction - reaching 1 million subscribers in the first ten months and 1 billion in the first eight years.
Currently, there are around 2.93 billion Facebook users, and it is owned by the parent company "Meta." The app's primary use case is a social networking platform that allows people to interact with each other in various ways. People can share and post images, videos, memories, and experiences with their friends and colleagues worldwide.
Thanks to its Facebook messenger extension, you can even use Facebook as a messaging app. The app also features built-in games, which surprisingly are very popular. Our post on how to perform a Facebook Audit can help you improve your engagement analytics!
Besides the primary use case, Facebook is a very popular app for businesses to do marketing and outreach. Businesses can do paid promotions and post on Facebook marketplace and independent Facebook groups - providing especially small businesses the opportunity to potentially reach millions of people with a very small marketing budget.
2) Instagram
Instagram was founded in 2010 and had fairly humble beginnings. The app's main concept was to share photos and ideas with like-minded people. The idea gained huge success, especially among the youth and people below the age of 35 - reaching 35 million users when Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012. Getting Instagram followers can do wonders for just about any business!
Since then, Facebook has developed and guided Instagram to a whopping 2 billion+ users today. Apart from being a popular social media platform, the app is an incredibly useful marketing tool businesses use - with 200 million+ businesses already using it.
The rise of the "influencer" made marketing on Instagram not only viable but the preferred route for many businesses - especially small and medium businesses that do B2C marketing.
Companies are helping these businesses that market on Instagram succeed. eclincher, for instance, provides not only an Instagram post scheduler but also the tools that simplify and save you time spent on the social media app - ultimately boosting your ROI.
It is safe to say that this social media platform has never looked so promising for a business looking for new marketing channels. Instagram can also be used as a free social media search tool to perform competitor analysis!
3) Twitter
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Twitter is a social media app that allows people to post short text messages (known as tweets). People post these tweets as a method to share their thoughts, ideas, or even the latest news on a subject. The social media network is also a great way for you to promote your business, boasting 350 million+ active Twitter users a day. Many of the best twitter marketing experts use this platform to reach their audience and grow their following!
4) TikTok
TikTok has taken the world by storm. It is one of the most successful social media apps to have launched in recent times - boasting a 9,200% 5-year search growth.
Most of the content on the social media platform is dance videos between 3 and 15 seconds. However, people also like to share other forms of short-form video content, such as clips of them talking, a comedy sketch, or just a bunch of short videos compiled into a 60-second clip. Most companies should now consider using TikTok for business considering how large their audience is!
Stickers and filters are just some of the features you can use to spruce up your videos. If you are an influencer looking to expand your outreach beyond Instagram - this is the app to go to! Businesses know that, which is why the app is also an incredibly effective marketing medium looking to grow their personal brand.
5) LinkedIn
Undoubtedly the most professional network currently available. LinkedIn has been the social network choice for most professionals for two decades. The app is perfect for you if your goal is to connect with businesses or other professionals in the same field of expertise as you are. The app has an impressive 100 million+ monthly active users. LinkedIn is perfect for integrating email social media marketing!
6) Pinterest
Pinterest is another social media app that has exploded since the Covid-19 era. You can use the best social media scheduling tools to make posting easy! The app is a great network for people to share creative ideas like arts and crafts. If you are looking for ideas for your next major DIY project - Pinterest is the app to use!
7) Snapchat
Snapchat is a unique social platform. Our guide on how to use Snapchat makes using this platform easy! The network allows you to share photos for only a short time before they are deleted - forever. This approach to sharing photos has a huge appeal, especially among younger users.
Snapchat is the king of filters. Its unique augmented reality filters and lenses filled a huge gap in the market for people who looks for something different than the standard selfie.
8) Tumblr
People on Tumblr mostly post multimedia and other types of content, such as Memes to a short-form blog. The app's target audience is mainly people who enjoy microblogging or want to catch up on the latest trending topics.
9) YouTube
YouTube is also one of the most recognizable brands in the world. There are many benefits to using YouTube for your business! With an impressive 122+ million daily active users, the app is undoubtedly the most popular online video-sharing platform. YouTube is owned by Alphabet - also the owner of the popular search engine "Google."
Most YouTube users come to watch their favorite YouTube channel, whether it is for educational videos or simply for entertainment purposes. The app is also very popular for its live streams. However, in recent years the app has gained much headway as an alternative to TikTok for sharing short-form video content, known as YouTube Shorts.
10) Reddit
Founded in 2005, it shares the likes with YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook as the oldest social media platforms on this list. Reddit has a different approach to being a social networking platform. The app allows you to join communities and discuss specific topics relevant to the community - a paradise for niche-crazed individuals who wants to exchange knowledge.
If you followed stock and investing news in 2020, you would surely have heard about Reddit and a particular online community on the platform - "WallStreetBets."
11) Tinder
Tinder is the only social media dating app on this list. The app took a normal dating app and made it into a type of gamified version which is engaging and easy to use. You simply "swipe left" to dislike or "swipe right" to like a user profile. The catch is that the other person must also "swipe right" on your profile before you can chat with them.
The unique approach to online dating has made Tinder the social media powerhouse it is today!
12) WhatsApp
Whatsapp is an instant messaging app that also allows you to make voice and video calls. The platform provides end-to-end encryption, meaning your data is safe from the outside world.
The app is owned by Meta, which just adds to Facebook's dominance in the social media category. People enjoy WhatsApp as it is easy to use, free and reliable. Businesses also use the app to communicate with potential customers because the app has proved as an easier means of communication than other social media platforms.
Pros and Cons of Social Media Platforms
Pros
There are a lot of pros to using a social media platform. Covering them all would need a separate article. Therefore I have compiled only the ones I believe are the most important and relevant:
- Faster Communication - Allows people to communicate almost instantly with each other across the globe.
- Convenience - Allows you to connect and catch up with friends and family from the comfort of your own home. It also makes meetings much easier as you do not need to schedule a face-to-face meeting.
- Feedback - Allows users to reach out to people who have previously tested a product.
- Social Groups - People can connect with like-minded people and share similar thoughts and interests.
- Business Marketing - Businesses can reach considerably more people through social media apps and sites. Plus, it is also more effective, thanks to influencer marketing campaigns and B2C marketing.
- News Sharing - With social media apps, people can share news much faster than news channels. People can also share information that governments might have censored from conventional news outlets - allowing people to get a true scope of what is happening in a particular situation.
Cons
With all good things, there will almost always be drawbacks. Unfortunately, social media platforms have many - here are just a couple of them:
- Addiction - People who use social media platforms are highly susceptible to getting addicted to them. It is not your fault. Most top social media platforms have teams whose sole purpose is to improve the engagement levels of the app - making sure you return for repeated use.
- The enemy of productivity - While you can find some great life hacks on social media platforms to improve your productivity. You can just as easily find yourself in a productivity slump, scrolling hours through the latest updates on your feed.
- Unreliable Information - Although social media platforms can be a great way of sharing news, they can also be an easy medium for people to fall culprit to "fake news."
- Fraud and Scams - People are much more likely to be victims of online scams because there is just so much of them everywhere.
- Data Tracking - Social media sites can track your data, even if you did not consent to it. Thereby gaining information about you, your habits, hobbies, etc. - which they sell to the highest bidder or use to improve their user engagement.
Best Social Media Platform For Business
Although there are many social media platforms out there, there are only a few that actually helps businesses, specifically through digital marketing. The best social media platforms for business are:
Instagram - The combination of influencer and B2C marketing makes this the best option for social media marketers. Instagram also allows businesses to create a social media presence that aligns with the youth - the future customers.
Facebook - Facebook Ads are also very successful and have a high conversion rate. It is easy to see why this app is the chosen method for marketing by many businesses.
TikTok - A rising sensation when it comes to digital marketing - definitely one to try.
Alternatively, you can try Twitter, YouTube, or even LinkedIn.
Why Is Social Media Marketing Important?
Social media marketing is very important for two reasons:
Present Marketing - People who would not get acquainted with your business through conventional means, like a billboard, will see your ad on a social media site - expanding your potential customer base.
It is also much more effective to market on social media sites than through other means. With a very low marketing budget, you can reach 10x more people with the right target demographic than you would when advertising in a newspaper or magazine.
Future Marketing - Marketing on social media creates a presence among current and future buyers. Remember, social media users are predominantly under the age of 35 - these are your future customers! By targeting the youth, it allows people to be mindful of your business. And when the time comes, they will remember you, and that ad will convert into sales.
Which Social Media Site Should You Choose?
Well, that depends on your use case. If you enjoy exchanging ideas with like-minded people, then Reddit, Twitter and even Pinterest are the sites to use.
If you are looking for image and video sharing, opt for Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. For entertainment specializing in video format - choose YouTube.
If you are a business looking to expand your presence via social media marketing, then Instagram and Facebook are your best options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best social media app in 2022?
Facebook remained the top social media platform for most active users. However, TikTok was the fastest-growing social media site in 2022 and might even dethrone Facebook one day.
What is the most using social media app?
Facebook has the most active users, with 2.93 billion.
What is the hottest new social media app?
TikTok is the hottest new social media app, with a 5-year search growth of 9,200%.
What do people use instead of Facebook?
People use Instagram or Twitter instead of Facebook. Alternatively, people have turned to new apps such as MeWe and WT.Social for a similar type of experience as Facebook.
What is the best social media for adults?
For a professional social media site, it is LinkedIn. But the best overall social media for adults is Facebook.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the top 12 leading social media platforms currently available. If you are a business owner who read this article looking for the best social media apps and sites to advertise on, we can help you. Our team of experts can provide you with knowledge and guidance on the best steps going forward to ensure your business gets the attention it deserves! To top that, we even offer useful tools to save you time on social media, allowing you to do what you do best - run your business! Simply book a meeting with us, and we will explain how we can help you. Alternatively, try our 14-day free trial - guaranteed to be worth your while!
