6 Best Social Networking Sites to Be on Right Now

If you’re reading this, you’re probably no stranger to social networking sites. Social media has become a place for brands of all kinds to thrive. And there’s no shortage of platforms to pick from when building your social media strategy and content plan.

The best social networking sites vary based on your brand, strategy, budget, and even your dance moves. Each platform offers a unique opportunity to reach growing audiences and produce compelling content. 

Whether you’re new to social media as a brand owner or a seasoned social media marketer, choosing your brand’s best social networking sites requires a bit of effort. There’s also the increasing challenge regarding how you best allocate your time, resources, and attention to social media. 

Here are six social networking sites to consider for your brand right now: 

1. Instagram

Love it or hate it, Instagram is likely home to a meaningful segment of your audience. This is what makes Instagram one of the best social networking sites for your brand.

There are a million ways to approach this platform. You don’t need to be a high-power influencer, fashion blogger, or YouTube star to find your home on Instagram. 

With over 1 billion monthly users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms for teens and young adults. Don’t ignore this social networking site if your target audience or customer base is under 40. There’s so much energy to harness on younger-leaning social platforms if you run an e-commerce business, lifestyle brand, or have access to stunning photography.

Instagram is highly visual. Stand out with beautiful photography, dazzling graphics or illustrations, quality video content, and a cohesive theme and brand personality. Hashtags will help, too. And scheduling posts is even easier now, thanks to Facebook Creator Studio integrating Instagram.

2. TikTok

This site may be the new kid on the block, but it’s easily one of the best social networking sites. Users are dancing, lip-syncing, performing comedy, showing off fashion, and much more. TikTok is the fastest growing social media platform right now. 

This video-based app features an audience where the majority of users are ages 16-24. TikTok also has the highest average engagement rates per post. You should prioritize TikTok if you have a creative approach and want to reach and entertain a younger audience. 

TikTok is the new meme. If you want to thrive on this social networking site, you have to stay on top of what’s popular. This means getting friendly with the “For You” page to make your versions of videos with trending songs, dances, and other nonsensical content. Avoid self-promotion and focus on being entertaining. If your brand has a big personality, you will find your home on TikTok.

3. Reddit

While easily one of the best social networking sites right now, it’s also one of the most underutilized platforms for marketers. Reddit is sometimes known as the internet’s front page due to its powerful social news aggregation abilities. The most popular threads rise to the top. It’s a platform where users can submit questions, links, and images; discuss them; and vote them up or down.

Reddit is made up of subreddits (i.e., dedicated forums) for pretty much anything you can imagine. Be mindful of the fact that these communities are built and maintained by fiercely protective Redditors. It’s critical to become a member first, contribute frequently, and find genuine ways to engage and post unique content. The audience for Reddit is highest in the 18-29 years of age category. 

Get the most out of Reddit by never outright selling anything. Think of Reddit as an extension of your public relations or outreach activity. You can talk directly to your audience, engage with them in information mutually cared about, and build relationships.

4. Facebook

Facebook is the largest social media site globally. But simply relying on the fact that a good portion of your audience is likely at play on this platform isn’t enough to find success. A strategic and thoughtful content plan is essential to ensuring Facebook is one of the best social networking sites for your brand. 

On Facebook, your brand can do it all — whether it’s live video, engagement-driven posts, or just visually appealing news content. If your audience is primarily above the age of 30, Facebook should be a key player in your social strategy. There’s also the opportunity to use Facebook Groups and Messenger to leave your mark. 

Get the most out of Facebook for your brand by creating exciting, engaging, and even polarizing content. Short videos and attention-grabbing photos and headlines go over well. Live streams and polls are also powerful. The key to building a brand community on Facebook is playing to your audience’s emotional responses and making them want to share content with their friends. 

5. Twitter

Twitter is hands down one of the best social networking sites for news. You can easily communicate with your audience in real time. Some brands have built empires on this app, while others have floundered miserably. 

Twitter is a powerful tool if you’re looking to tackle B2B social media marketing. Threads are king when it comes to Twitter. Breaking news has made a home on this platform. Bite-sized content is a must, but so are well-timed (and smartly written) tweets. Don’t miss out on opportunities to top on trending topics, hashtags, and memes. It also helps to have a sense of humor.

The majority of Twitter users are between the ages of 35 and 65, as well as male. Keep this in mind as you craft your approach or decide whether this platform is worth your time and resources.

6. Medium

The blogging landscape has changed significantly in the last few years. Medium has been an intriguing option for marketers and brands as it’s an online publishing platform with a social network element. It’s free to publish on Medium and free to read most articles, but there is a paid element involved. 

If you’re looking for the best social networking sites to establish a long-form content strategy, Medium is at the top of the list. You can use this platform to publish original content for your brand or even republish blog posts from your company blog to extend reach. There’s already a built-in audience, which is a huge plus. 

Your approach to Medium should match your brand. Medium could be a unique publication piece for you, a reposting hub, a chance to work with visitors’ links and analytics from this platform to your website, or a unique spot for beautiful visual storytelling.