Currently, there are more than a hundred social media platforms in the online scene. With different features, purposes, and target users, it can be overwhelming to check them all out, and see which ones will benefit your online branding.

That said, we can start with getting to know the most popular ones first. In this article, we’ll walk you through the top social media platforms that you can utilize for your business.

What Are the Most Popular Social Media Platforms for Business?

Almost every social media platform will be beneficial for businesses. Brands mainly use this to increase brand awareness and online presence. So, what are the most popular social media platforms for businesses? Here’s a list based on usage and user base:

1. Facebook

With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook provides businesses with a large audience to reach and engage with.

Using Facebook, businesses can create a page or account. This will allow them to post updates, share information about their products or services. The platform also makes a great tool to interact with your audience through comments and direct messages, so it’ll help your brand if you learn how to provide better customer support for your business on Facebook. 

Business pages also include features such as customer reviews, call-to-action buttons, and the ability to create events, all of which you can use to enhance customer experience. 

One of the key advantages of using Facebook for business is the ability to target specific audiences with advertising. Facebook's advertising platform allows businesses to create highly targeted ads based on factors such as age, gender, location, interests, and behaviors.

In addition, the platform at hand also offers a range of tools and resources to help businesses succeed on the platform. These include analytics and insights to track performance, best practices and tips for creating engaging content, and support for managing and optimizing advertising campaigns.

Overall, Facebook is a powerful tool for businesses that are looking to increase their reach and engagements. With the right strategies, this will also aid in generating sales and conversions.

2. Youtube

As the second-largest search engine in the world after Google, YouTube provides businesses the opportunity to reach and interact with their audience through video content.

Businesses can create a YouTube channel to share video content, such as product demos, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes footage. The platform comes with built-in video editing tools and features. Hence, it will be easy for businesses to create high-quality videos without the need for expensive equipment or software. Just make sure to create marketing videos that can improve online presence and revenue.

In addition to organic video content, businesses can also use YouTube for advertising. YouTube's advertising platform allows businesses to create targeted video ads that appear before or during other videos on the platform. Like Facebook, YouTube's advertising platform allows businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics and online activities.

One of the key advantages of using this social media platform for business operations is the ability to build a loyal audience through video content. Businesses can use their YouTube channel to showcase their brand personality, connect with their audience on a more personal level, and establish themselves as a thought leader in their industry.

3. Instagram

Instagram is also one of the most popular social media platforms for businesses, particularly those targeting a younger demographic. The platform has over 1 billion monthly active users, providing businesses with a large audience to engage with.

Similar to Facebook, brands can also sign up for a business profile on Instagram. Doing so will allow them to share visual content such as photos and videos. It will also give access to features like replying to comments and direct messages. There are other features that you can utilize for content creation, including Stories, Reels, and IGTV.

One of the many benefits of using Instagram for business operations is the platform's visual nature. The platform’s focus on visuals makes it an ideal platform for businesses in industries such as fashion, beauty, food, and travel, where media appeal is the key to showcasing products and services.

Instagram also has a range of advertising options to help businesses reach their target audience. The ad campaigns allow businesses to create targeted ads based on several demographic-related factors. There are also features dedicated to ecommerce, such as shoppable posts and in-app checkout, so you can get sales directly from the platform.

Remember, if you’re going to use Instagram for your brand, pay a lot of attention to the images that you’ll post. Make it as visually appealing as you can. You should also consider bringing your product images to life with product photo retouching.

4. WhatsApp

With over 2 billion active users, WhatsApp provides businesses with a direct and personal way to connect with their customers and clients. Unlike the previous platforms, this focuses more on being a communication channel rather than a marketing tool.

Businesses can use WhatsApp to create business accounts, which allow them to communicate with their audience through one-on-one chats, group chats, and broadcast lists. This allows businesses to provide personalized customer support, share updates and promotions, and build stronger relationships with their customers.

WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, which ensures the privacy and security of messages exchanged between businesses and their customers. This can be particularly important for businesses in industries such as finance and healthcare, where privacy and security are critical.

In addition, the platform offers a range of features to help businesses manage their communications. You can use tools like automated messages, quick replies, and labels to categorize conversations. WhatsApp Business also integrates with other business tools such as Facebook Ads, making it easy for businesses to manage their communications across multiple channels.

5. Tiktok

Up to date, TikTok has a user base of over 1 billion. You’ll benefit a lot from this if your business makes use of short-form video content to reach out to your audience.

Brands can use TikTok to create a business account, which allows them to share short videos showcasing their products or services, behind-the-scenes footage, and other engaging content. TikTok's algorithm is designed to surface videos that are likely to be of interest to users, making it easier for businesses to reach a wider audience.

TikTok is best for targeting a viral reach. The platform’s algorithm and user behavior often results in certain videos going viral which can provide businesses with a lot of exposure and brand awareness.

There are also a number of advertising options in the social media platform at hand, so you can also start campaigns using targeted ads. 

Note, though, that Tiktok may not be the best fit for businesses that can’t rely on short-form video content to promote their products and services.

6. Snapchat

With over 500 million active users, Snapchat provides businesses with a way to reach and engage with a highly engaged audience through visual content. This is like Instagram, given the visual-focused interface, except that this also doubles as a more personal communication channel.

For an overview, brands can use Snapchat to create a business account. You can use it to share photos and videos with their followers through their Snapchat Story. They can also use features such as filters, lenses, and stickers to make their content more engaging and interactive.

Businesses can use this platform to share exclusive content, offer limited-time promotions, and provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of their brand. This can help create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) among followers, which can drive engagement and sales.

Just like the previous platforms, Snapchat also offers various ad options. However, what makes this unique is you can create sponsored lenses and filters to help increase brand awareness and engagement.

7. Pinterest

With over 400 million active users, Pinterest provides businesses with a visual platform to showcase their products and services, drive traffic to their website, and reach a highly engaged audience.

Businesses can use Pinterest to create boards and pins dedicated to their products or services, as well as related content that their target audience might find interesting. They can also use features such as Rich Pins to provide additional information about their products or services, and Buyable Pins to allow users to purchase products directly from Pinterest.

The main advantage of utilizing Pinterest for business needs is its ability to drive traffic to a business's website. Users can click on pins to be taken directly to a business's website, which can help increase website traffic and potentially drive sales and conversions.

In addition, Pinterest offers various advertising options in the form of promoted pins. These appear in users' feeds, alongside organic pins, but with a targeted approach.

Overall, Pinterest can be a handy social media platform for businesses looking to promote their products or services in a visually engaging way. However, this may not fit brands that may not have visually appealing products or services to showcase. 

8. Reddit

Reddit is a popular social media platform that is often overlooked by businesses. If used properly, this can be a powerful tool, especially for those looking to reach and engage with niche audiences. With over 430 million active users, Reddit is a community-driven platform where users can create and participate in discussions on a wide range of topics.

Businesses can use Reddit to add a more personal touch on how they connect with their target audience. They can create their own subreddits (i.e., communities) around their brand or industry to have a more streamlined connection with the users. Brands can also share content that is relevant and interesting to their target audience, as well as participate in discussions to provide value and build relationships with users.

One of the key advantages of using Reddit for business is its ability to reach highly engaged and passionate niche audiences. Users on Reddit are often very knowledgeable about specific topics and are passionate about sharing their knowledge and opinions with others. This can provide businesses with an opportunity to connect with their target audience on a deeper level and build brand awareness and loyalty.

For businesses who want to promote their products and services while still connecting with their audience, they can also take advantage of the platform’s advertising options.

Just remember that to successfully use Reddit for business, you have to use a strategic approach and have the willingness to engage authentically with users.

9. Twitter

Twitter is a popular social media platform for businesses, particularly those looking to reach a broad audience and engage with customers in real-time. With over 330 million active users, this platform provides businesses with a platform to share short messages (known as tweets) and interact with their followers.

Brands can use Twitter to share updates, news, and promotions with their followers. They can also use it to engage with customers, respond to customer inquiries and complaints, and build relationships with their audience.

Twitter’s main advantage is its real-time nature. It allows businesses to engage with customers in real-time, responding to inquiries and complaints as they happen, which can help build trust and loyalty with customers, and improve overall customer satisfaction.

There are also available options directed to creating promoted and targeted tweets.

10. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a popular social media platform for businesses, particularly those looking to reach a professional audience and engage with other businesses in their industry. The platform has over 740 million active users, and provides businesses with a platform to showcase their expertise, connect with potential clients or partners, and recruit new talents.

Businesses can use LinkedIn to create a business page, which allows them to share updates, news, and promotions with their followers. They can also use it to engage with other businesses and professionals in their industry, participate in groups and discussions, and build relationships with their audience.

One of the key advantages of using LinkedIn for business is its professional nature. LinkedIn is specifically designed for professionals, making it an ideal platform for businesses looking to reach a working audience.

In addition, LinkedIn offers a range of advertising options to help businesses reach their target audience. Its advertising platform allows businesses to create targeted ads based on factors such as job title, industry, and company size.

Leverage Social Media With The Help Of Outsourcing

To maximize your brand’s online presence,it’s best to utilize all the social media platforms mentioned previously. However, doing so can be challenging since you also need to pay attention to your other business operations. 

At ManilaPros, we understand the best practices in using social media to help position your brand for success. Through our digital marketing services, you can have curated monthly marketing calendars as well as unique and engaging content on various social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tiktok, and Youtube. 

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