- April 25, 2022
- by Last expert
- Blogs, Non Voice Support, Social Media Management
- 0 Comments
It’s useful to know about the most popular social media sites out there right now, whether you’re a seasoned social media marketer, a marketer trying to enter into social media marketing, or a business owner looking to harness social media. This will enable you to expand your brand’s social media reach, engage with the relevant individuals, and meet your social media objectives.
Of course, the size of social media sites isn’t the only factor. It’s also about determining whether the social networking site is a good fit for your company and you. Is it consistent with your brand’s image? Is your target market on that social media platform? How many social media accounts can you manage at the same time?
We studied and collated information about the leading social networking sites in 2022 to make things easier for you. Some will sound familiar, while others will be unfamiliar. We propose that you read through this list to discover more about the social media sites that could be beneficial to your business. Remember that having a successful brand does not necessitate being on every social media platform.
The top 20 social media sites of 2022
The number of Monthly Active Users is used to rank the sites on our list (MAUs).
1. Facebook — 2.9 billion MAUs
With over two billion monthly users, Facebook is the most popular social networking platform. This means that Facebook is used by around 36.9% of the world’s population. More than 200 million businesses (mainly small businesses) utilise Facebook tools, and over seven million advertisers actively promote their enterprises on Facebook, making it a very secure pick if you want to have a social network presence.
It’s simple to get started on Facebook because practically all content formats – text, photographs, video material, and Stories — function well there. The Facebook algorithm, on the other hand, emphasises content that inspires significant connections and conversations among individuals, particularly among family and friends.
2. YouTube — 2.2 billion MAUs
Every day, users watch a billion hours of video on YouTube, which is a video-sharing network. In addition to being the second largest social media site, YouTube is frequently referred to as the second largest search engine after its parent company, Google.
If you employ video marketing to advertise your business, you must be present on YouTube.
3. WhatsApp — 2 billion MAUs
WhatsApp is a popular messaging programme that is used in more than 180 countries. People used WhatsApp to send text messages to their relatives and friends at first. People gradually began using WhatsApp to communicate with businesses.
Businesses can use WhatsApp’s business platform to give customer service and share updates about their transactions with their consumers. The WhatsApp Business app is for small businesses, while the WhatsApp Business API is for big businesses.
WhatsApp may be a terrific customer care channel for your company because it is the most extensively used messaging platform.
4. Instagram — 2 billion MAUs
Instagram, as a visual medium, is ideal for presenting your products or services through images or videos. You may share a variety of content on the app, including images, videos, Stories, reels, live videos, and longer-form movies on IGTV.
As a business, you may set up an Instagram business profile, which gives you access to detailed metrics for your profile and posts, as well as the ability to plan Instagram posts using third-party apps.
5. Facebook Messenger — 1.3 billion MAUs
Messenger used to be a Facebook feature, but it has been a standalone app with additional features since 2011. Advertisements, chatbots, newsletters, and other services are available to businesses. Businesses now have a plethora of new methods to engage and connect with their customers thanks to these features.
6. WeChat — 1.26 billion MAUs
Tencent, one of China’s largest tech giants, launched WeChat in 2011. WeChat began as a chat app, similar to WhatsApp and Messenger, but has since expanded into an all-in-one platform. Users may shop online, pay bills, buy groceries, transfer money, make bookings, book cabs, and more in addition to chatting and phoning.
In China and other parts of Asia, WeChat is the most popular social media platform. WeChat is a wonderful alternative if you want to enhance your brand in China (where big social networks like Facebook and Twitter are forbidden). You can use the official WeChat account or WeChat Moments to run ads. Many WeChat-based influencers can also assist your brand in reaching millions of Chinese consumers.
7. TikTok — 1 billion MAUs
TikTok (also known as Douyin in China) is a video-sharing app for short-form videos. Despite the fact that it only launched in 2017, it is one of the world’s fastest-growing apps and recently surpassed Google as the most visited internet site. TikTok allows users to generate and share videos that are between 15 and 60 seconds long, and the app includes a large library of sound effects, music snippets, and filters to enrich and improve the videos. You may find movies on practically any topic, including lip-syncs, dancing, and challenges, as well as DIY skills and make-up tips. In the United States, 47.4 percent of TikTok users are between the ages of 10 and 29. TikTok is an excellent platform for your business to be on if your target market is young.
8. Sina Weibo — 573 million MAUs
In Chinese, “Weibo” () means “micro-blog.” Sina Weibo, or simply Weibo, is a microblogging network similar to Twitter and Instagram that was launched in 2009 by the Chinese technology company Sina Corporation.
Users can submit photographs, videos, and tales to Weibo, as well as view what’s trending, utilise hashtags in their posts, and use the platform for instant messaging.
Sina Weibo has a younger population than WeChat, and it has more informational and trendy material. In fact, according to The New York Times, Weibo is the place to be in China if you “want to go viral.” Businesses can also use Weibo to engage with their followers and use sponsored advertising by creating official and verified accounts.
9. QQ — 538.91 million MAUs
Tencent first published QQ in China in 1999. QQ was the most popular Chinese messaging programme prior to the launch of WeChat. QQ allows users to customise their avatars, watch movies, play online games, stream music, shop online, blog, and make payments in addition to instant messaging.
While WeChat has surpassed QQ as China’s most popular social media platform, QQ remains popular among younger users. It’s also utilised in over 80 countries and comes in a variety of languages. One of the benefits of QQ is that it does not require a phone number to register. Young individuals who do not have mobile devices but utilise the desktop version are drawn to this.
The workforce, on the other hand, is the largest audience for QQ. QQ’s desktop messenger is well-liked for its simplicity and capacity to send files larger than 25 megabytes, which WeChat does not allow.
10. Telegram — 550 million MAUs
Telegram is a free chat programme that works on numerous platforms and has no restrictions on the amount of files sent.
Telegram is distinguished by end-to-end encryption for all operations, including chats, groups, and material shared between users. Over time, its emphasis on security has attracted more users, particularly since WhatsApp announced modifications to its privacy policy that would let it to share data with parent firm Meta.
Apart from delivering one-on-one customer care, brands may use Telegram in a variety of ways. Brands can, for example, create Telegram chatbots or utilise the platform’s channel capability to broadcast messages to up to 200,000 people.
11. Snapchat — 538 million MAUs
Snapchat is a social media platform that allows users to share photographs and brief videos (known as snaps) with their friends. It popularised the vertical video format, which later spread to other social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. However, the rise of Instagram Stories, in particular, appears to have hampered Snapchat’s growth and, more broadly, advertisers’ enthusiasm in using Snapchat for their brands. Despite this, 69 percent of American teenagers say they use Snapchat. If your target demographic is primarily teenagers, the app should be considered.
12. Kuaishou — 519.8 million MAUs
Kuaishou is a Chinese app that competes with Douyin and TikTok. Kuaishou, like its competitors, allows users to add sound snippets and overlay text and stickers to photographs or videos. Users can also record lengthier films or live broadcast content to their followers on the network.
Kuaishou is more popular with an older audience than TikTok, especially in rural areas of China. E-commerce revenue is also more important to the app than advertising revenue.
13. Qzone — 517 million MAUs
Tencent’s Qzone is another China-based programme that combines social networking and blogging. Users can upload multimedia, keep journals, write blogs, play games, and listen to music while using the service.
Users can connect with friends, receive a feed of updates, comment, share, or respond to posts, and change their cover or profile photographs, just like on Facebook.
14. Pinterest — 444 million MAUs
Pinterest is a one-stop shop for finding new products and ideas as well as getting inspiration. Users “pin” photographs to Pinterest that link to websites, product pages, blog articles, and other online information. Pinterest users are 7x more inclined to purchase things they’ve pinned, making it an excellent platform for driving traffic to your website. Fashion, beauty, home, garden, and DIY are among the most popular subjects and themes on the social media site. So, if your company is in one of those areas, you should seriously consider using Pinterest marketing to increase your visibility.
15. Twitter — 436 million MAUs
Twitter users enjoy sharing information about news, entertainment, sports, politics, and other topics. What distinguishes Twitter from most other social media platforms is that it places a significant emphasis on real-time information — what’s happening and trending right now — and does so in only 280 characters (140 for Japanese, Korean, and Chinese).
Many businesses utilise Twitter to provide customer support. According to advertisers on Twitter, Twitter handles more than 80% of social customer support enquiries. Twitter is dubbed the “New 1-800 Number for Customer Service” by Salesforce.
16. Reddit — 430 million MAUs
Thanks to its mix of current events, celebrity “ask me anything” (AMA) events, and in-depth discussions of niche issues, Reddit, recognised for its popular upvoting function, has been dubbed the “front page of the internet.”
For almost anything under the sun, there are subreddits (i.e., specialised forums). Subreddits, on the other hand, have varying levels of involvement, so it’s a good idea to do some research to see if there are any popular subreddits in which your business may participate.If your company is a beauty brand, for example, you may join r/beauty. Most subreddits, however, do not allow self-promotion. The goal is to ask and answer questions, share advice and information, and participate in discussions with users of the individual subreddits.
You may get content ideas and advertise on Reddit in addition to contributing your material and engaging in discussions.
17. Quora — 300 million MAUs
Quora is a community-based question-and-answer website and app where users may learn about a wide range of topics. Views, votes, reviews, and shares are used to rank questions and answers.
As a brand, you may set up a Quora page for your company or enlist the help of staff advocates to answer questions about your products or services, as well as industry-related issues. You may also utilise Quora’s ad platform to promote your business. It’s also a terrific way to contact clients who are actively looking for a product or service, as 63 percent of users research significant online purchases.
18. Skype — 300 million MAUs
Skype is a video, audio, and text communication app that allows users to make and receive free video calls as well as send and receive instant messages with other Skype users on a variety of devices. Skype began as a stand-alone business in 2013, but it is currently owned and developed by Microsoft.
Skype for Business includes all of the normal Skype features as well as enhanced functionality designed specifically for small enterprises. Skype for Business, for example, allows you to hold online meetings with up to 250 people, has enterprise-grade security, allows you to manage employee accounts, and integrates with Microsoft Office programmes.
19. Microsoft Teams— 270 million MAUs
Microsoft Teams is a video conferencing and collaboration software that allows users to communicate via text chat, phone, or video call. It also integrates with a number of other Microsoft 365 services, including OneDrive and PowerPoint.
Microsoft Teams is a better fit for larger organisations than Skype. Microsoft Teams, in particular, provides enterprise-grade security, allows up to 10,000 people to meet and communicate, allows users to share huge files (up to 1TB per user), and has more functionality and collaboration possibilities than Skype for Business.
20. LinkedIn — 250 million MAUs
LinkedIn has developed from a simple résumé and job search engine to a professional platform where industry professionals share content, network, and create their personal brand. It’s also become a hub for companies to build thought leadership in their fields and recruit top talent.
We’ve created a simple five-step method to help you expand your LinkedIn Business Page. LinkedIn also has advertising options, such as the ability to send tailored adverts directly to users’ inboxes.
Be selective with your social media presence
Consider whether your brand’s target demographic is engaged on such channels, regardless of the size of the social media site. It’s preferable to focus on two to three sites and excel at them rather than creating mediocre material for five or more platforms.
P.S. Buffer allows you to schedule social media posts across a number of popular social media platforms. Try Buffer for 14 days to see what it can do for your business if you want to manage many social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or TikTok.