Most Popular Social Media Platforms for Your Brand in 2024

Social media has become the backbone of the brand communication. It provides businesses with the great opportunity to connect with their audience.

So far, simply having a social media account isn’t enough.

To truly reach and engage customers, you need to have a powerful online presence. For which using the right platforms is key.

But with so many options, choosing the right social medium for your brand can be overwhelming.

That’s where QC Digital comes in.

We, as the best digital marketing agency in Perth, specialise in helping your business maximise the online presence through effective social media marketing strategies. Whether you want to boost your brand visibility, engage with the customers, or drive traffic to your website, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

So, in this blog post, we’ll provide you with the top 12 social media platforms to consider in 2024. Additionally, we’ll explore how you can effectively use them to grow your business.

So, let’s get started.

12 Top Social Media Platforms You Can’t Ignore in 2024 | A Comparative Overview

To begin, let’s clarify, what is social media?

“Social media refers to a set of tools and platforms that enable people to share ideas, information and content online among the users.”

When it comes to choosing the right social media platforms for your brand, several factors come into play. We evaluated these platforms based on their monthly user base, organic traffic, and unique features that make each one stands out.

Let’s see what we’ve found out.

Let’s get into the details.

1. Facebook

Monthly Active Users: 3 billion

Monthly Organic Traffic (Globally): 13,100,000,000

Launched: 2004

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

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA.

Best for:

• B2B marketing
• B2C marketing
• community building
• customer service
• ecommerce
• live streaming
• multimedia content
• older demographics
• targeted advertising

Facebook has evolved from a simple college networking site into the world’s largest social media platform. It’s now a global hub where people from all backgrounds connect and share.

On Facebook, you can make a business page to share posts, images, videos, events, and more. It’s a versatile platform for promoting your brand and engaging with your audience.

Who’s on Facebook?

Facebook is used by people of all ages, but it’s especially popular among men aged 25-34, who make up 17.6% of global users.

Overall, 70.8% of Facebook users are between 18 and 44 years old.

What to Post on Facebook?

Facebook users watch an incredible 100 million hours of video daily. Whether it’s a funny clip, a tutorial, or an inspiring story, videos are great for capturing attention. But don’t forget to mix things up with carousels, stories, polls, and other formats.

To get the most out of Facebook, use the scheduling tool to plan your posts and keep an eye on Insights to track engagement and reach. Facebook ads are also a powerful way to expand your audience and boost your content.

2. YouTube

Monthly Active Users: 2.7 billion

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 73,000,000,000

Launched: 2005.

Founders: Jawed Karim, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley.

Headquarters: San Bruno, California.

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• influencer marketing
• live streaming
• targeted advertising
• video content
• younger demographics

YouTube, owned by Google, is a popular platform where people share and watch videos. You can search for any type of content and even subscribe to your favorite channels.

Who Uses YouTube?

YouTube is used by people of all ages, but it’s especially popular with younger viewers. Over half of the users are between 18-44 years old.

What to Post on YouTube?

There’s a lot you can do on YouTube. Educational or how-to videos are great because they help people and show off your expertise. Entertaining videos get more engagement, but you can also share vlogs or personal stories to connect with your audience. Working with other creators can also help you grow your channel and produce quality content.

3. LinkedIn

Monthly Active Users: 350 million

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 1,900,000,000

Launched: 2003

Founders: Reid Hoffman, Konstantin Guericke, Allen Blue, Jean-Luc Vaillant, Eric Ly.

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA.

Best for:

• B2B marketing
• community building
• customer service
• older demographics
• targeted advertising

LinkedIn is the go-to platform for businesses and professionals which makes it perfect for B2B marketing. You can set up a company page to share a variety of content like images and videos, job opportunities, articles and documents etc.

You can also share content through your personal profile which allows you to engage with your audience on a more personal level.

Who’s on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is mostly used by professionals and job seekers with a large chunk of users aged 25 to 35.

What to Share on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn flourishes on professional and career-focused content. Posts that educate, inform, and relate to your industry do best. Visuals like infographics and videos are especially effective if they provide valuable insights.

Tips for Success on LinkedIn

• Join relevant groups to participate in various discussions and share your expertise.
• Post articles or insights related to your field.
• Connect with others in your industry to grow your network and keep up with the latest trends.
• Celebrate milestones like promotions or completed projects to highlight your achievements.

4. Instagram

Monthly Active Users: 2.35 billion

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 6,700,000,000

Launched: 2010

Founders: Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger

Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA.

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• ecommerce
• influencer marketing
• short-form video
• targeted advertising
• visual content
• younger demographics

Instagram is one of the most used social media apps where you can share photos, multi-image posts (called carousels), and short videos (known as reels).

Who uses Instagram?

Most Instagram users are between 25-34 years old, with a close second group being 18-24. It’s not as popular among older adults – only about 5.8% of users are over 55.

What to Post on Instagram?

Instagram is all about eye-catching visuals. It’s perfect for industries that thrive on visuals, like fashion, beauty, travel, food, and lifestyle, especially if you’re aiming to connect with a younger crowd.

If you want to grow your presence on Instagram, consider setting up a Creator or Professional account. There are plenty of options for paid ads to help boost your reach.

5. Pinterest

Monthly Active Users: 518 million

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 974,500,000

Launched: 2010

Founders: Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra, Evan Sharp.

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA.

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• ecommerce
• targeted advertising
• visual content

Pinterest is a platform where you discover and save visual content. Users create and organise images on virtual boards, making it a great tool for inspiration and ideas.

Who Uses Pinterest?

A large percentage of users are women, especially millennial women, who look up Pinterest as a search engine. In fact, 77% of all Pinterest users are women.

What to Post on Pinterest?

Pinterest is perfect for content that people search for, like DIY projects, tutorials, infographics, inspirational quotes, and wallpapers.

6. Reddit

Monthly Active Users: 430 million

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 5,500,000,000

Launched: 2005

Founders: Steve Huffman, Alexis Ohanian, Aaron Swartz.

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA.

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• customer service
• niche communities
• targeted advertising

Reddit is a platform where people join groups called subreddits to talk about specific topics, like wedding planning or sustainable fashion. This setup lets you target your marketing and connect with communities interested in what you offer.

Who Uses Reddit?

In the U.S., about 23% of adult men are on Reddit. Most users are between 18 and 49, making it a great platform to reach a younger audience.

What Should You Post on Reddit?

Reddit thrives on user-generated content and discussions. You can post, comment, and vote on the content, which helps build a community feel. For businesses, join relevant subreddits and interact with users without being overly promotional. Focus on sharing valuable information and joining conversations.

Moreover, participating in AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions can also boost your credibility and position your business as an industry leader.

Learn more about: Big News: Google Teams Up with Reddit and Pinterest

7. Quora

Monthly Active Users: 305 million

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 1,100,000,000

Launched: 2009

Founders: Charlie Cheever, Adam D’Angelo

Headquarters: 650 Castro Street, Mountain View, California US

Best for:

• B2B marketing
• community building
• customer service
• niche communities
• targeted advertising

Quora is a place where people ask questions, give answers, and join discussions on various topics. It’s great for industry experts and leaders who want to build credibility and connect with specific audiences.

Who Uses Quora?

Most Quora users are men, making up about 61% of the platform. It’s popular among younger users, with nearly 78% between the ages of 18 and 44.

What Should I Post on Quora?

On Quora, focus on sharing informative content and asking good questions that spark meaningful discussions. People on Quora value detailed, well-researched answers that give a complete view of the topic.

You can share useful resources, insights, or step-by-step guides. Personal stories can also make your brand feel more relatable – just keep them relevant to the topic.

8. Snapchat

Monthly Active Users: 800 million

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 189,300,000

Launched: 2011.

Founders: Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, Daniel Smith, David Kravitz, Leo Noah Katz.

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA.

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• influencer marketing
• short-form video
• visual content
• younger demographics

Snapchat is a messaging app where people send photos and videos that can disappear after a short time. It’s especially popular with younger people, like Gen Z and millennials.

Who Uses Snapchat?

Snapchat is most popular with younger users, especially teens and young adults aged 15 to 25. About 48% of Snapchat’s users are in this age group.

What to Post on Snapchat?

Post Snaps that disappear quickly to create a sense of urgency. This is great for sharing time-limited deals and promotions. It helps encouraging your followers to create and share their own Snaps using your branded filters or hashtags.

Don’t forget to experiment with Snapchat Ads to boost your reach and engagement.

9. TikTok

Monthly Active Users: 1.67 billion

Monthly Traffic (Global): 2,700,000,000

Launched: 2016.

Founders: ByteDance Ltd, Zhang Yiming, Toutiao.

Headquarters: Culver City, California.

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• ecommerce
• influencer marketing
• live streaming
• short-form video
• targeted advertising
• younger demographics

TikTok is a fun app where you create and share short videos. It uses smart algorithms to show users content they like, which helps you reach a big audience even if you’re just starting out.

Who Uses TikTok?

TikTok is especially popular with people aged 13 to 34. It’s a great platform for ads too, with low costs like $0.50 per thousand views and $0.02 per click.

What to Post on TikTok?

On TikTok, creative and entertaining videos work best. You can join trending dance challenges, make lip-sync videos, or share educational content like cooking tips or DIY projects. Additionally, collaborating with others on TikTok can also boost your reach.

10. X / Twitter

Monthly Active Users: 600 million

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 4,400,000,000

Launched: 2006

Founders: Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, Noah Glass.

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA.

Best for:

• audio content
• B2B marketing
• B2C marketing
• community building
• customer service
• multimedia content
• targeted advertising

Twitter, now known as ‘X’, is a popular platform where major brands and influential people connect with their audience. You can share updates, photos, and polls in messages up to 280 characters long. For more personal interaction, customer service teams use direct messages to engage with users.

Who’s on X?

X has a diverse global user base, mostly ranging from 18 to 49 years old, with many users between 25 and 34.

What to Post on X?

X is great for real-time updates and news. Share timely insights and news to boost your presence. While text is key, adding eye-catching images and videos can make your posts pop. Use relevant hashtags to get noticed and engage with others by responding to their tweets and joining conversations. Additionally, avoid posting explicit content to stay in good standing.

11. WhatsApp

Monthly Active Users: 2.4 billion

Monthly Organic Traffic (Global): 3,900,000,000

Launched: 2009

Founders: Jan Koum, Brian Acton

Headquarters: Menlo Park, 1601 Willow Rd, United States

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• customer service
• messaging
• privacy focus

WhatsApp is the best messaging app used around the globe. It offers a personal and direct way to chat with customers and potential clients.

Who Uses WhatsApp?

People of all ages and backgrounds use WhatsApp to stay in touch. It’s especially popular with younger users, with about 26% of people aged 26-35 and 20% of those aged 36-45 regularly using the app.

What to Share on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is all about personal communication, so keep your content friendly and direct. Use WhatsApp for Business to send personalized messages like birthday wishes, holiday greetings, or just a quick check-in.

You can also create groups to stay connected with different audience segments or use the broadcast feature to send updates to multiple contacts at once.

12. Telegram

Monthly Active Users: 900 million

Monthly Traffic (Global): 615,100,000

Launched: 2013

Founders: Pavel Durov

Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Best for:

• B2C marketing
• community building
• customer service
• messaging
• privacy focus

Telegram is a messaging app which keeps your conversations private with end-to-end encryption. It even offers self-destructing messages for extra security.

For businesses, Telegram is great for reaching a big audience through channels and groups. It’s also handy for customer support and gathering feedback.

Who Uses Telegram?

Telegram is popular in places like Iran and Russia, where people value its strong privacy and security features.

What to Post on Telegram?

Channels and groups are key on Telegram. You can have up to 200,000 members in a single group. Join or create groups that match your industry to connect with an extensive audience and share relevant content.

Recap…

Choosing the right social media platforms is important for your brand’s identity and success. By understanding each platform’s strengths and aligning them with your marketing objectives, you can optimise your social media strategy for maximum results. Whether you’re looking to engage a younger audience or build professional connections, QC Digital is here to help you every step of the way.

Contact us today to learn how our social media management can lift your brand to new heights.

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