The High 11 Social Media Websites & Platforms

Social media is integral to our day by day lives.

With 4.8 billion social media customers worldwide – accounting for 59.9% of the worldwide inhabitants – social platforms have turn into obligatory hubs for gathering info, connecting with our buddies and family members, and rising our companies.

And social media customers have grown to belief and depend on their most well-liked social networks for all the things from real-time information and updates to way of life hacks, product analysis, and extra.

For entrepreneurs, the world of social media represents an expansive space of alternative – and each consumer is a possible buyer.

With the best instruments, sources, and a sturdy social media technique, entrepreneurs can leverage social media platforms to spice up consciousness for his or her enterprise, have interaction their audience, and even nurture a loyal group.

However with so many alternative social media platforms current in the present day, it’s practically unimaginable to be current on each single one – not to mention excel in each area.

Success in social media advertising and marketing begins with choosing the proper platforms in your model. You might want to establish the place your audience is spending probably the most time and the place it is sensible in your manufacturers to work together with them.

On this article, we’ll take a look at the main social media platforms, giving a fast overview of what they’re earlier than exploring what kinds of companies may discover them most helpful.

High 11 Social Media Platforms In contrast

*Variety of month-to-month lively customers worldwide, up to date October 2023.

The High 11 Social Media Apps By Month-to-month Energetic Customers

*Variety of month-to-month lively customers worldwide up to date October 2023.

The High 11 Social Media Websites And Platforms

1. Fb

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA

Launched: 2004

Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 3 billion

Founders: Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes

Income: $88-91 billion (2023) estimated

Whereas Fb won’t be the thrilling new platform it as soon as was – and might need fallen out of favor with youthful customers – make no mistake: it’s nonetheless round, and extra in style than ever.

In the present day, Fb operates underneath the umbrella of Meta, Inc., which additionally owns platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

Lately, Fb has undergone a demographic shift – but its affect within the social media sphere stays unparalleled.

Industries corresponding to monetary companies, ecommerce, retail, media, telecom, expertise, and shopper items proceed to harness Fb’s expansive attain to attach with shoppers and develop their model consciousness – with newer sectors like gaming, leisure, and automotive companies additionally discovering their footing on the platform.

In the event you’re trying to drive conversions, your greatest guess is to put money into Fb advertisements – particularly given the Information Feed is more and more suppressing enterprise posts.

That mentioned, there are nonetheless loads of methods to generate natural engagement with out investing in advertisements.

Think about becoming a member of (or constructing) area of interest communities with Fb Teams, leveraging Messenger chatbots for customized communication, or utilizing reside video to encourage real-time viewers interplay.

2. YouTube

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Launched: 2005.
• Headquarters: San Bruno, California.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 2.5 billion.
• Income: $30.4 billion (2023) estimated
• Founders: Jawed Karim, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley.

YouTube continues to carry the crown because the dominant authentic video social media platform. It’s at the moment the second most used platform, with 2.5 billion month-to-month lively customers.

The potential for attain on YouTube is unmatched, with 89% of U.S. adults utilizing the platform. Such engagement metrics are exhausting for entrepreneurs and types to disregard.

From longform video storytelling to the current introduction of YouTube Shorts, the platform’s TikTok rival, YouTube gives loads of alternatives for manufacturers to have interaction in visible storytelling and attain new audiences.

And in accordance with the corporate, it’s a really highly effective advertising and marketing software. YouTube viewers say they’re 2X extra possible to purchase one thing they noticed on YouTube, and 4X extra possible to make use of the platform to seek out details about a model, product, or service versus different social networks.

Whether or not you’re into magnificence tutorials, gaming streams, training content material, or DIY hacks, YouTube has all of it. And for manufacturers aiming to pivot into video-centric content material advertising and marketing, YouTube is the platform to prioritize.

3. WhatsApp

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Launched: 2009.
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 2 billion.
• Income: $500 million – $1 billion (2023) estimated
• Founders: Brian Acton, Jan Koum.

WhatsApp stays the preferred social messaging app, means out in entrance of Fb Messenger.

At first look, manufacturers may overlook WhatsApp’s potential, given its closed messaging nature. However take into account that SMS has a mean of 98% open price in comparison with 20% for e-mail.

It’s a captive viewers. And, in contrast to SMS, WhatsApp messages are free to ship.

For manufacturers that wish to enhance their customer support efforts or join immediately with prospects to reply their questions, WhatsApp has a ton of potential. It provides a uniquely direct and efficient channel for interacting along with your viewers.

In the event you can crack WhatsApp, you’ll have a direct advertising and marketing channel to your viewers.

4. Instagram

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA.
• Launched: 2010.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 2 billion.
• Founders: Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger.
• Income: $50.6 billion (2023) estimated

Instagram is a social community the place product-based companies, influencers, and coaches can thrive.

Launched in 2010, Instagram shortly turned the main image-based, visually-rich social platform. Since then, it has solely grown in reputation and attain, turning into a spot for customers to conduct and analysis each facet of their lives.

The platform has additionally launched new options that entrepreneurs can leverage to develop consciousness, together with ephemeral Tales, vertical-video Reels, and extra.

Since introducing shoppable posts in 2018, the potential ROI for product-based companies has been increased than ever.

Not solely can B2B companies join with a large viewers, they’ll seamlessly transition followers from product analysis to buy by linking product info and making gross sales – all throughout the Instagram interface.

And in case your goal demographic is underneath 35, Instagram is a gold mine: over 68% of Instagram customers are underneath 35.

5. TikTok

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Launched: 2016.
• Headquarters: Culver Metropolis, California.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 1.2 billion.
• Founders: ByteDance Ltd, Zhang Yiming, Toutiao.
• Income: $6.19 billion (2023) estimated

TikTok payments itself as “the main vacation spot for short-form cellular video” with an organization mission to encourage creativity and produce pleasure. And evidently, it’s succeeding.

TikTok’s meteoric rise over the previous few years has been unprecedented. In 2017, after just one 12 months, the app turned the fastest-growing app worldwide.

Its give attention to short-form movies pushed by audio and visible traits has taken the world by storm, with different platforms speeding to emulate it.

Regardless of makes an attempt to ban TikTok within the U.S. and being banned in India, as of 2021, the app had been downloaded greater than 3.5 billion occasions globally.

And whereas TikTok reaches customers of all demographics, in case your model desires to attach with Technology Z, it needs to be your first precedence.

Within the U.S., it’s significantly in style among the many 12 to 17 age bracket, who represent about 17.7% of the consumer base.

These customers are extremely engaged, too, with the common consumer spending practically 54 minutes on the app on daily basis – the longest period of time of any app, forward of YouTube at 48.7 minutes.

6. Snapchat

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA.
• Launched: 2011.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 750 million.
• Founders: Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, Daniel Smith, David Kravitz, Leo Noah Katz.
• Income: $4.6 billion (2022).

If a youthful viewers is your goal, Snapchat is perhaps a platform value contemplating. This social platform is a superb place for connecting with millennials and Gen Z customers.

Nearly half of all customers on Snapchat are 18 to 24-year-olds, showcasing its immense enchantment to the youthful technology.

The common Snapchat consumer spends 19 minutes per day on the app – not sufficient time to rival that of TikTok and YouTube, however nonetheless a chance window for manufacturers to achieve and join with them.

Snapchat has a uniquely natural really feel, with content material that gives an unfiltered glimpse into on a regular basis moments – so the platform is a haven for user-generated content material, behind-the-scenes movies, unique provides, and influencer takeovers.

The platform has all the time maintained its dedication to real-time, ephemeral content material, and it provides a way of privateness to customers that many different social platforms don’t. For that reason, it’s a worthwhile software for manufacturers that wish to authentically converse to a youthful demographic who is perhaps much less within the broader approaches of different social networks.

And whereas it could not get as a lot consideration because the likes of Instagram and TikTok, Snapchat is quietly buzzing alongside. Since launching its premium subscription service Snapchat+, the model introduced it has generated 5 million paying subscribers who’re prepared to dish out cash for entry to unique options.

7. Pinterest

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Launched: 2010.
• Headquarters: San Francisco, CA.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 465 million.
• Founders: Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra, Evan Sharp.
• Income: $2.8 billion (2022).

Like Instagram, Pinterest is a social media platform that’s centered on wealthy visuals. From scrumptious recipes to house decor inspiration, wedding ceremony concepts, exercise strikes, and DIY-related content material, Pinterest is the place visible desires come to life.

In case your model has an curiosity in visible storytelling, Pinterest is the platform for you.

Notably, 60% of Pinterest customers are girls. In case your viewers is predominantly girls, that’s a compelling purpose to take a position time in social media advertising and marketing on Pinterest.

That’s to not say that males aren’t on Pinterest – male Pinners are up 40% year-over-year (as are Gen Z Pinners!).

What’s extra, Pinterest has confirmed itself to be a robust advertising and marketing software. 85% of weekly Pinners have made a purchase order from a Pin, whereas 80% have found a brand new model or product on Pinterest.

8. Reddit

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Launched: 2005.
• Headquarters: San Francisco, CA.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 430 million.
• Founders: Steve Huffman, Alexis Ohanian, Aaron Swartz.
• Income: $670 million (2022).

Reddit heralds itself as “the entrance web page of the web,” and in accordance with Alexa rankings, Reddit is among the prime 20 most-visited websites.

It has turn into generally known as the dominant digital watercooler, and changed boards and chatrooms of yore to be the go-to place for connecting with likeminded communities and getting your questions answered.

Reddit has a novel mix of content material and group, with greater than 2.8 million communities, or subreddits, devoted to each subject possible. Whether or not you’re in tech, vogue, gaming, or well being, there’s no less than one subreddit actively discussing your trade.

With so many niches, there’s a spot for each model and enterprise to have interaction their viewers – it’s a matter of discovering the niches the place your potential prospects are lively and diving in.

Nevertheless, be warned: Reddit thrives on authenticity and real interplay. Customers don’t sometimes reply nicely to blatant self-promotion, and advertising and marketing gimmicks might be met with sharp skepticism.

Manufacturers ought to beware earlier than wandering into any subreddit and making an attempt to tout their merchandise to group members.

It’s essential to get the tone proper from the start, as commentators received’t hesitate to name out and critique what they understand as inauthentic.

Interact thoughtfully, contribute genuinely, and Reddit could possibly be an unimaginable advertising and marketing software in your model.

9. LinkedIn

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA.
• Launched: 2003.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 310 million.
• Founders: Reid Hoffman, Konstantin Guericke, Allen Blue, Jean-Luc Vaillant, Eric Ly.
• Income: $15 billion+ (2023).

LinkedIn has been considerably of a darkish horse amongst social media platforms. Whereas many might not initially have anticipated a career-focused social platform to take off, it has turn into one of many extra in style and fascinating platforms, with an enormous and influential group of execs.

The platform boasts over 180 million customers holding senior roles, 63 million decision-makers, and 10 million C-level executives – making it a hotspot for these aiming to attach with of us who’ve the ability to rent your organization, inventory your product, or accomplice along with your model.

And the platform isn’t only for networking – it’s an aspirational hub. Each week, 61 million folks use LinkedIn to seek for job alternatives – so it’s a sensible place to market your model.

LinkedIn is a really centered social media platform. Due to that, it has limitless potential for connecting with an elite group of execs who could make a distinction for your enterprise.

10. Threads

• Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA.
• Launched: 2023.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 120 million (2023).
• Founders: Mark Zuckerberg.
• Income: Unknown.

The newcomer to the block, Threads was created by the workforce behind Instagram and launched in July 2023. The text-based app was designed as a competitor to X (previously Twitter).

It appears to be like and capabilities fairly equally to X (previously Twitter), although Threads requires you to have an Instagram account in an effort to join.

Threads initially made a splash within the social media area by shortly surpassing 150 million downloads and turning into probably the most profitable social media platform launch in historical past.

Since then, it has struggled to retain customers – however there may be nonetheless loads of promise for the way forward for the platform.

So, who needs to be promoting on Threads? It’s nonetheless early days, so the reply isn’t completely clear but.

The excellent news is that Threads seems to be partaking customers by leaning into its technique to create a constructive group area, and veering away from the extremely politicized panorama that you simply may discover on X.

In case your model is in search of a substitute for X (previously Twitter) or is eager to attempt your hand at a brand new platform, Threads is actually value testing.

Its integration with Instagram means that you’ve the potential to construct a following fairly quickly when you have a powerful and engaged Instagram group.

11. X/Twitter

Screenshot by creator, Might 2022

• Headquarters: San Francisco, CA.
• Launched: 2006.
• Month-to-month Energetic Customers: 56.1 million (2023).
• Founders: Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, Noah Glass.
• Income: $3 billion (2023) estimated

Since being bought by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in October 2022 for $44 billion, X (previously Twitter) has been dealing with some main modifications and hurdles.

It has misplaced roughly 13% of its day by day lively customers – and the response to the platform’s rebrand from ‘Twitter’ to ‘X’ didn’t assist issues both.

With common customers and types each more and more turning away from the app, some are heralding its potential demise – whereas others say nothing a lot has modified.

Despite a transparent understanding of what the long run holds for the platform, if your enterprise is said to leisure, sports activities, politics, tech, or advertising and marketing, there are nonetheless alternatives to drive nice engagement on this app – if yow will discover your viewers there.

On X, manufacturers have a chance to craft and hone their voice. There’s room to be intelligent and personable whereas nonetheless being informative and useful.

Bounce into threads, present worth, share your personal content material in addition to others, and be part of the dialog. Simply make sure you monitor the app and your viewers to verify your funding is paying off.

Which Platform(s) Ought to You Use?

The ubiquity of social media is simple.

Out of your teenage neighbor who desires to go viral on TikTok to your 86-year-old grandmother who’s utilizing Fb to trace down long-lost buddies, everyone has a use for social media.

But, in the case of enterprise, a one-size-fits-all method to social media received’t work.

So, in the event you have been hoping you’d attain the tip of this piece, and discover a easy, definitive reply on the proper platform in your model, you’re out of luck.

Each social media combine might be distinctive.

Every platform provides distinct options and functionalities, some which align extra naturally with particular industries or advertising and marketing targets.

Whether or not you’re trying to enhance buyer engagement, enhance attain, or create unforgettable model experiences, all of it begins with getting clear in your targets.

Begin by understanding your targets, determining the place your viewers is most lively, after which tailoring your technique to resonate on these channels.

It’s all about making the best selections and discovering genuine alignment in an effort to make use of this highly effective advertising and marketing alternative.

Up to date with knowledge from DataReportal’s Digital 2023 October International Statshot Report.  

Extra sources: 

Featured Picture: Paulo Bobita/Search Engine Journal