A Basic Guide On Social Media Platforms

How well do know digital marketing? One popular stream of digital marketing is social media. Social media allows us to reach various audiences from the comfort of their devices. People and businesses alike use different social media platforms for different purposes.

Why should we care about the different social media platforms?

As someone interested in social media marketing, we need to understand the different platforms and how they are used from a business perspective. Understanding this can help us use social media more effectively to satisfy our goals.

This blog is your basic guide on some popular platforms, giving you a breakdown of what they are and some information on how businesses use them.

Instagram

Instagram is a platform where you will find all sorts of content. With Stories, Reels, Carousels, Shops, and more, Instagram is generally used by everyone, from businesses to influencers, to regular people. It is ideal for sharing visual content like photos and video content. Owned by Meta, Instagram has several convenient features connected to Facebook.

From a business perspective, Instagram is an excellent social media platform for B2C marketing as you interact with the general public. You can use features like Instagram Shop to promote your business and Reels and Stories to attract attention. Additionally, it is a diverse-content platform where companies can find and target Gen Z and Millennials.

Bonus: Learn how to use Instagram for your business here

Facebook

As one of the largest social media platforms (if not the largest), Facebook is a more traditional channel for social media. Facebook connects to Instagram through cross-posting, allowing accounts to share stories and posts between the two platforms. The platform is about sharing content that sparks conversation to get high engagement. Many pieces of content that tend to perform well are interesting, new, or potentially controversial.

Facebook is a solid platform to reach the older Millennials and Gen X, with the platform having the same emphasis on B2C marketing. Anything eye-catching to create conversion and communities is well suited for this platform.

Bonus: Learn how to use Facebook for your business here

Twitter

Twitter is a social platform mainly focused on short messaging. It is an excellent platform for customer service and announcements. The short messaging forces marketers to get straight to the point, and its ability to reach many users with live updates is the benefit of using Twitter for business. It is a great platform for B2B and B2C purposes.

Bonus: Learn how to use Twitter for your customer service needs here

LinkedIn is probably the best B2B social media platform on this list. This social media platform is used for professional needs, including self-promotion, storytelling, professional announcements, and more. Built on a "clout" culture, LinkedIn is an excellent place for people and businesses to network. Its hiring features make it great for HR purposes, and it is a platform where a person could find more insightful conversations.

Bonus: Learn how to use LinkedIn for your marketing needs here

TikTok

As TikTok has surged in users over the last few years, its presence as a social media platform is unique. With its large array of video-making features, TikTok is a platform that specializes strictly in video content. What is different about this platform is that many businesses take the opportunity to create B2C content in a form that looks like C2C.

Unlike traditional ads with high-quality videos or photo production, TikTok business content uses a more "home-made feel" where the videos look like any user made them (in terms of quality and production style). With thousands of niches and high growth potential, it is a platform many digital marketers are exploring.

Bonus: Learn how to use TikTok for your business here

That is pretty much a generalized summary of each popular social media platform. As a digital marketer or someone learning about social media marketing, it is essential to know your goals and your business's target audience. From there, you can select the right platform for your needs.

Want to learn more about social media marketing and other digital marketing insights? Check out my other blogs and gain the insights you need to succeed!