Social Media – Importance, Types, and More

Social Media

Social media are communication websites and apps that connect people all over the world. The most popular social media platform is Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Whatsapp. It has a mandatory presence in any good digital marketing strategy.

Social Media is an integral part of today’s world. For people, they are already part of everyday life. For companies, they are no longer a matter of choice but of obligation.

What is Social Media?

Social media are communication channels made possible by technology. They make it possible for users to publish and receive information.

There are many different types of media, but they share some common characteristics:

• Interaction: Web 2.0 application-based interactivity;
• Content: User-generated content;
• Personification: Own and identifiable accounts for users, creating personalization;
• Connection: connections between different users, creating communication networks.

Another relevant feature is accessibility by electronic devices. It includes desktop computers to mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets.

The Importance of Social Media

Since the start of the 21st era, Social Media has gained ample space in society. With that, it became impossible to ignore its potential for digital marketing. Facebook has several active users that are greater than the population of any country in the world. Furthermore, more than half of the world’s population – more than 4 billion people – already have at least one platform today.

Still, its presence has become more complex. Before, it was enough to be present to gain prominence. Today, you need content that delivers value and generates interaction. Another issue of relevance is the ads. While the return on investment was immense in the past, today, it is possible to see no return if campaign planning is complete poorly. After all, where people’s attention is, so is the competition between brands.

Types of Social Media

Understanding the basic concept makes it possible to understand further the main types and how to use them to find your target audience.

Six Degrees

Usually referred to as the first social media, Six Degrees emerged in the late 1990s. Because it was so old, it had limited possibilities. Still, he already had personal accounts, connections between friends and the opportunity to list where he studied.

MySpace

Before there was Facebook, there was MySpace. Initially created as a file storage platform in 2003, it quickly conquered the market by adding a social media interface. MySpace still exists, albeit much smaller, after losing the battle to Facebook.

Facebook

Facebook, the current world leader, emerged in 2004 as a social media for universities. After opening registrations to anyone, Facebook has grown exponentially to reach 2.9 billion monthly users today. This social media has become very relevant both in the organic part and the paid part ( Facebook Ads ) due to its immense power of segmentation.

YouTube

Despite being one of the most accessed sites in the world, few users know that YouTube is social media. Formed in 2005 by former PayPal employees, the video platform is now part of Google. Youtube is the second largest search engine today, behind only its “mother ship”, Google. It is possible to advertise on the platform through Google Ads on its display network.

Twitter

Despite having a slower growth rate than its better-known peers, Twitter is still going strong, thanks to a loyal user base. Created in 2006, this social media initially only allowed the posting of texts of 140 characters. Today, Twitter accepts 280-character videos, photos, links and texts. We have more than 17 million active users in Brazil on the platform. You can advertise on this social media through the Twitter Ads ad platform.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp, the most popular instant chat application in Brazil, can also be considered social media. It promotes connections and information exchange. Very popular in Brazil, India, South Africa and Germany, WhatsApp has taken essential steps to become more efficient for companies in the future, as is the case with WhatsApp Business and the WhatsApp product catalogue. Also, you can create WhatsApp messaging campaigns through Facebook Ads Manager.

Pinterest

Pinterest emerged in 2010 with the proposal to be a social media focused on sharing photos. In it, users can create, classify and share boards with varied thematic inspirations (from fashion, hobbies, decoration, weddings, games, etc.). The social network allows uploading images and videos, known as “pins”, classifying them in collections called “pinboards”.

With this growth, companies have understood its relevance and many brands use Pinterest as a “discovery” engine for new content, products, services and trends. It is currently also possible to advertise on the platform through Pinterest Ads.

Instagram

Innovating as an image-focused it, Instagram quickly gained market share. It ended up being bought by Facebook in 2012. Much of Instagram’s initial appeal came from its filters that improved the photos taken. When he included Stories, he managed to neutralize Snapchat, a competitor that had been growing and threatening. In addition, when creating Reels, it clashed with rival TikTok.

Eventually, it became essential to millions of businesses around the world. It is undoubtedly one of the whole platforms in terms of business features, in addition to having all the power of Instagram Ads and Instagram Shopping, for example.

Snapchat

Snapchat was launched initially in 2011 as an image app, but the video format quickly gained popularity on this social media. The famous Stories, copied by Instagram, first appeared on this social network and quickly became a success.

You’ll be able to create your “snaps” using photos or videos and a range of filters and material editing options. Snapchat has approximately 300 million daily users worldwide, with about 12 million users in Brazil alone.

TikTok

Created in 2017, it has grown to worry about the big competitors in the market. It focuses on video sharing, with dubbing tools and music inclusion. Very popular with the younger crowd.

It is currently one of the fastest-growing social media in the world.

Conclusion

As we have seen, social media has become fundamental for brands, as they hold much of the attention of consumers today. In this way, understanding the nature of Social Media and its vast possibilities makes more and more sense to achieve good results in this increasingly competitive environment.

Also Read: WTO (World Trade Organization) Digital