5 Types of Social Media and How Each Can Benefit Your Business:

Social media is described as any form of digital platform that allows its users to share content as well as interacting with one another. These days, social media sites make up the majority of traffic online, with sites such as Facebook and Twitter bringing in millions of active users each day. Social media has become popular because of how it allows people to engage in conversation with other users from all over the world as well as endlessly interacting with content.

Aside from being fun for its users, social media is also incredibly useful for businesses. It allows brands to share content and reach a larger audience than they would receive on other platforms. In addition, it’s a great way to interact directly with consumers and potential consumers to improve brand loyalty. You can read this comprehensive study for more details on the subject, but in this article, we’ll be discussing the five main types of social media and how they can help your business succeed. 

Video Social Media Platforms

Video social media platforms include the likes of YouTube, Instagram Reels and Facebook Watch. A lot of different social media platforms support video content, and this is an excellent opportunity to reach a large audience if your content is good enough. Videos can be produced in both long and short formats, depending on the platform and the type of video you want to create. 

For a business, video content should aim to primarily inform, entertain or inspire your audience. Focusing on selling is unlikely to engage viewers as much and will lead to lower results overall. Businesses can utilise video on social media to build brand awareness and connect with their preferred demographics. 

Audio Social Media Platforms

Audio social media platforms allow users to listen in on conversations and podcasts about topics they enjoy. Examples of these services include Spotify and Clubhouse, both of which offer a varied selection of discussions that can be listened to either live or at any time. This format is ideal for reaching people that are already deeply interested in a topic, as well as bringing a topic to new audiences.

As a business, audio platforms can be used to broadcast news and announcements, host question and answer sessions and deliver engaging interviews with staff. Engaging in conversations about topics relating to the industry is a great way of building trust and authority in the niche. 

Disappearing Content Format

Disappearing content includes platforms such as Instagram stories, Snapchat and Facebook Stories. It’s used to share behind the scenes content, announcements, live events and more. Because the content disappears in 24 hours, it’s best suited for time-sensitive content.

Businesses can make use of disappearing content to advertise giveaways and share special news and announcements. It often allows a business to share its human side too, which can be very useful in encouraging consumers to engage with the content. 

Discussion Forums

Discussion forums allow users to engage on a topic and talk about it in-depth. Examples of this type of social media include Reddit and Quora. Users use these websites to find more information about a topic as well as share thoughts and ideas themselves.

For a business, discussion forums are excellent for providing information and expertise on the businesses’ subject matter. While self-promotion is often frowned upon on these platforms, it can still be a powerful tool for gaining brand awareness.

Live Streaming Platforms

Live streaming platforms allow users to broadcast video live, often including a live chat function for viewers to join in and engage with the stream. Examples include Twitch, YouTube, Instagram Live and more. Live streaming is very popular and provides a high engagement rate with viewers.

Businesses can use live streams to promote product releases, host interviews and question and answer sessions and even show behind the scenes content. By encouraging discussion, they can engage with a large number of people and provide helpful insights to their consumers.