Information from this blog post was obtained from Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and HubSpot.
It’s 2023, there are many social media platforms! BeReal is one of the social media platforms that absolutely blew up! It is one of the fastest applications that grew because it was so new and everyone just had to have it! But what else is social media doing?
Social media marketing is more important than it just being for enjoyment. Social media is important for businesses, personal branding, and professional success. With the number of social media platforms that are available nowadays, you can show off your skills, and achievements, and build a professional profile for yourself.
All social media platforms are not equal. Social platform preferences are based on factors like age or interest, and there’s never a guarantee the platform you choose is where they like to engage with brands.
Social media is changing every day and keeping up with platforms is crucial when wanting to attract new fans and connect with current ones.
The Most Popular Social Media Platform… Facebook!
Facebook has nearly three billion monthly global active users, according to Sprout Social, with US users being over 179 million.
Facebook is known as the most popular social network in the world. Facebook is known as the social media app that is used for older people, but I honestly like using Facebook. You can join professional groups, stay up to date with family members, and even create a professional-looking profile. When creating a professional profile, you can include a cover photo and profile picture that represents your brand. You can also use the “About” section to provide a brief bio and include links to your other profiles, and even your website and other profiles. While on Facebook, you can also join relevant groups and participate in discussions to increase your reach and network with others. Share relevant content, such as blog posts or articles, and you can even track your engagement and adjust your content to gain more attraction.
- Consider running targeted ads to reach a wider audience because Facebook allows you to target specific interests, making it a more effective way to reach potential customers.
TikTok
TikTok has become one of the most popular social media networks in the world. TikTok has about one billion global active users and over 179 million US users and dominates as one of the platforms U.S. customers spend the most time on. When scrolling through TikTok, you will always see consumers promoting products either because it’s a paid partnership, or because they simply enjoy the product that much. You can start marketing yourself by creating an account to create content to build your professional profile.
When on TikTok, you can create with other professional networks and build yourself from there. With Tik Tok, you can create engaging videos that show your true skills, offering value to your audience. When creating these videos, you will attract more followers.
When you attract these followers, be sure to engage with your followers by responding to their comments and messages, and even collaborate with them! Make sure to post regularly to increase your chances of going viral and reaching a wider audience!
TikTok is a unique platform that is growing every day with a great opportunity to showcase your creativity and establish yourself as an influencer. With TikTok, you can feel a deeper connection to brands than with any other platform. TikTok has helped users make purchase decisions, and that trust can go a long way.
TikTok trends inspire other social content, which helps marketers understand what topics are relevant to younger consumers. TikTok remains the core platform for Gen Zs, making it possible to reach a more cross-generational audience.
With Instagram, you can show your creativity, such as photography, design, and many others. When on Instagram, you can create a profile that describes you and your style! You can post high-quality images and videos that are appealing to you and your work. With Instagram, you can also use relevant hashtags to increase your reach and even attract followers.
You can also engage with your followers by likes their comments, responding to their comments, and direct messages.
Instagram shopping has also made the platform more popular. While Instagram shopping, you can connect with other customers while making sales. Consumers can also receive feedback by asking questions to other users, which is a really important feature customer service wise.
Twitter is a great platform to connect with people to be able to share your thoughts and ideas. You can create a professional profile and follow people and organizations relevant to your industry. On Twitter, you can engage in conversations and share relevant content to get yourself out there. Use hashtags to attract followers interested in your area and to be seen! By tweeting regularly, you can build your brand. With Twitter, you can receive direct audience feedback and questions. When you’re responsive on Twitter, that can help your brand and your image!
YouTube
YouTube is another popular platform. With YouTube, you can showcase your video content and establish yourself! On YouTube, create a professional-looking channel and upload high-quality videos (just like on TikTok) showing your work. When uploading your work, you can offer ideas to your audience.
When creating these high-quality videos, you can promote your content on your other social media platforms. On YouTube, you can also be engaging by responding to comments, liking others’ content, and being engaging! I believe that YouTube is a great channel to establish yourself in your field.
According to Sprout Social, YouTube is where people spend the most average time per day, second behind TikTok. 51% of consumers plan on YouTube being one of their top-used platforms this year, but only 35% of marketers say the same.
Pinterest in another great social media platform for spotting trends and targeting niche audiences. Pinterest is used for inspiration and finding new brands and I like using Pinterest to look for outfit ideas, hair & nails ideas, cooking ideas, and even more!
In my opinion, I believe that LinkedIn is the best platform to be on! I think this because LinkedIn is the largest professional network where you can connect with professionals all around the world! LinkedIn is one of the best social media platforms for business purposes where brands can target professional audiences. It seeks people who are looking for jobs and recruiting employers! LinkedIn has continued to grow over the years because it is a mix of social media that job hunters and recruiters will need.
Interested in More Info?
If you want to read more information on how to navigate these social media platforms, feel free to visit HubSpot. HubSpot has helpful guides on how to navigate these social media platforms and how to gain an audience and followers. It'll also have more information on other social media platforms!
While reading on HubSpot, I did read that Pinterest and YouTube might be losing stream compared to their competition. These platforms probably saw this coming with TikTok surpassing them with the amount of popularity and users that are on this app.
Representing Yourself!
These are only a couple of platforms, but there are around 200 more platforms where you can market yourself! Marketing yourself on different platforms is essential to establish yourself and your brand. When marketing yourself, you can reach out to potential customers and employers. When creating your profile, you need to make sure that it represents you. By this, you need to create an engaging profile that stands out! With an engaging profile, you can share relevant content and engage with your audience. When you’re engaging, this will let your audience know that you’re active and that you care about your followers.
Resources
Hill, C. (2023) 15+ social media platforms your brand should use in 2022, Sprout Social. Available at: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-platforms/ (Accessed: April 17, 2023).
Iskiev, M. (2023) The fastest growing social media platforms of 2023 [new data], HubSpot Blog. HubSpot. Available at: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/fastest-growing-social-media-platforms?hubs_content=blog.hubspot.com%25252Fmarketing&hubs_content-cta=null&hubs_post-cta=blognavcard-marketing (Accessed: April 17, 2023).
Macready, H. (2023) How to do social media marketing for Small Business, Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard. Available at: https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-tips-for-small-business-owners/ (Accessed: April 17, 2023)
Comments