The 20 Best Social Media Sites for Your Brand in 2023
Summary
Learn which social media platforms are now most used. While some may be well known, others might not. Find some you haven't yet explored that might be excellent for your brand.
You'll discover
The social networks with the highest monthly active members and engagement
Unknown social networks with a huge following
Where to concentrate your social media efforts to maximize scale
It's useful to be aware of the top social media platforms at the moment, whether you're an experienced social media marketer, a marketer trying to get started with social media marketing, or a business owner looking to use social media. By doing this, you'll be able to engage with the relevant individuals, increase the reach of your business on social media, and accomplish your social media objectives.
Of course, it's not just a matter of how big the social media platforms are. The social media platform must also be a good fit for both you and your company. Does it fit the image of your brand? Does your target market use that social media platform? How many social media platforms can you simultaneously manage?
We investigated and gathered data about the leading social media platforms for 2023 in order to make things easier for you. You'll recognize some of them, while others may sound unfamiliar. To find out more about the social media platforms that might work well for your brand, we advise going through this list. And keep in mind that having a great brand does not need being active on every social media platform.
2023's top social media platforms
Our list's ranks are determined on the number of Monthly Active Users (MAUs).
1. Facebook, with 2.9 billion MAUs.
The most popular social media platform is Facebook, which is used by over two billion people each month. This indicates that approximately 36.9% of people on the planet use Facebook. If you want to have a presence on social media, Facebook is a reasonably secure pick because more than 200 million businesses (mainly small businesses) utilize its capabilities and more than seven million marketers actively promote their business there.
Facebook is simple to use because practically all content formats, including text, photos, video material, and Stories, function well there. Yet, the Facebook algorithm gives priority to content that promotes meaningful interactions and conversations among individuals, particularly those from family and friends. For additional information on Facebook conversation starters, go
2. YouTube — 2.2 billion monthly unique users
Every day, users of the video-sharing website YouTube watch one billion hours of content. In addition to being the second-largest social media platform, YouTube is frequently referred to as the second-largest search engine behind its parent firm, Google.
So, you must be on YouTube if you employ video marketing to advertise your brand. Here's how to get started with setting up a YouTube channel for your company. Also, we advise reading up on YouTube SEO or thinking about using YouTube advertising to broaden your audience in order to help your videos be found by more people.
3. WhatsApp conversation with 2 billion MAUs.
People use WhatsApp, a messaging service, in more than 180 different countries. Initially, WhatsApp was primarily used by users to text their relatives and friends. People gradually began contacting companies using WhatsApp.
Businesses may offer customer service and update clients on their purchases using WhatsApp's business platform. The WhatsApp Business app is available for small businesses, and the WhatsApp Business API is available for enterprise businesses.
WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app, may be a fantastic customer care channel for your company. Check out these success stories from WhatsApp Business users.
4. Instagram - the 2 billion MAUs
Instagram is a great visual tool for showcasing your goods or services through images or videos. You can share a variety of media on the app, including images, videos, Stories, reels, live videos, and longer-form movies on IGTV.
You may set up an Instagram business profile as a brand, which gives you access to detailed metrics for your profile and posts as well as the capability to plan Instagram updates using third-party applications.
We offer a thorough guide on Instagram marketing that will assist you in using Instagram like a pro.
6. WeChat, which has 1.26 billion MAUs.
Tencent, one of the largest technology corporations in China, introduced WeChat in 2011. WeChat began as a messaging program, similar to WhatsApp and Messenger, but has since transformed into a multipurpose platform. Users can shop online, pay bills, buy groceries, send money, make bookings, phone, and more in addition to chatting and calling.
In China and other areas of Asia, WeChat is the most widely used social media platform. WeChat is a wonderful alternative if you want to promote your company in China (where big social networks like Facebook and Twitter are prohibited). You can run advertisements on WeChat Moments or the official WeChat account. Also, a lot of influencers with a WeChat following might assist your business reach millions of Chinese consumers.
7. TikTok: 1 billion monthly users
TikTok is a short-form video sharing app, also known as Douyin in China. Despite only being introduced in 2017, it is one of the world's fastest-growing apps and recently surpassed Google as the most popular website.
Using TikTok, users can generate and share 15–60 second videos that can be enhanced with a wide variety of sound effects, music clips, and filters to make them more visually appealing. Videos relating to virtually all interests are available, from lip-syncing, dancing, and challenges to do-it-yourself tips and makeup instructions. Ages 10-29 make up about 47.4% of TikTok users in the United States. In light of this, TikTok is a fantastic place for your business to grow if your target market is young.
.. and ........... To build your brand and gain more followers on TikTok, you can plan and schedule posts in advance.
8th: Sina Weibo (573 million MAUs)
Chinese for "micro-blog" is "Weibo" (微博). You guessed it—Sina Weibo, often known as Weibo—was introduced by the Chinese technology giant Sina Corporation in 2009 and is a microblogging service similar to Twitter and Instagram.
Users can publish photos, videos, and stories on Weibo, view popular topics, include hashtags into their postings, and use the network for instant messaging.
Sina Weibo has a younger audience than WeChat and provides more trending and informative content. Weibo is indeed the place to go if you "want to go viral" in China, according to The New York Times. Businesses can create official, verified profiles on Weibo to interact with their followers and run sponsored advertising campaigns.
9. QQ — 538.91 MAUs
Tencent launched QQ in China in 1999. QQ was the most popular Chinese chat program until WeChat was introduced. Users of QQ can customize their avatars, watch movies, play online games, stream music, shop online, blog, and make payments in addition to using its instant messaging services.
Although WeChat now dominates the market in China, younger consumers still favor QQ. Furthermore used in 80 nations, it is also available in a variety of additional languages. You may sign up for QQ without a phone number, which is one of its benefits. This draws young folks who don't have mobile devices but utilize the desktop version.
The workforce, however, is where the majority of QQ's users come from. Because it is simple to use and supports file transfers larger than 25 MB, which WeChat does not, QQ's desktop messenger is well-liked.
10. Telegram, which has 550 million MAUs.
With no restrictions on media sizes, Telegram is a free chat software that functions on many different devices.
End-to-end encryption for all operations, including conversations, groups, and participant-shared media, is what makes Telegram stand apart from the competition. Since WhatsApp announced revisions to its privacy policy that would allow it to share information with parent firm Meta, its emphasis on security has attracted more users.
Together with one-on-one customer service, brands may use Telegram in a variety of other ways. For instance, businesses can build chatbots for the Telegram platform or use the channel function to broadcast messages to 200,000 users or more.
11) Snapchat, with 538 million MAUs.
Snapchat focuses on sending snaps—short movies and photos—to pals. It helped popularize the vertical video format, which later spread to other social networking sites like Instagram and TikTok. Yet, the popularity of Instagram Stories in particular appears to have hampered Snapchat's development and, more generally, advertisers' enthusiasm in using Snapchat for their businesses.
12. Kuaishou: 519.8 MAUs
Chinese competitor to Douyin or TikTok is Kuaishou. Similar to its rivals, Kuaishou lets users add sound bites, stickers, and text over photographs or videos. In addition, users can record lengthier movies or live stream content to the platform's users.
Kuaishou is more well-liked by older audiences than TikTok, particularly in rural areas of China. Additionally, the app depends more on e-commerce revenue than it does on ad revenue.
13. 517 million MAUs for Qzone
Another Tencent app with a Chinese focus, Qzone combines social networking and blogging. Users can stream music, play games, keep diaries, blog, and submit multimedia.
Users can connect with friends, view a feed of updates, comment on, share, or otherwise respond to postings, and update cover or profile photographs, just like on Facebook.
14. Pinterest has 444 million MAUs.
Pinterest serves as a central hub for finding ideas and new items. Users "pin" images on Pinterest that point to websites, product pages, blog articles, and other online material. It's a fantastic tool for increasing website traffic, and shoppers on Pinterest are 7 times more likely to make a buy after seeing an item they've bookmarked.
Fashion, beauty, home, gardening, and DIY are among of the social media platform's most popular topics and themes. So, you should seriously consider using Pinterest marketing to promote your business if it works in any of those sectors.
15. Twitter — 436 MAUs
Users of Twitter like posting news, entertainment, sports, and other topics. Twitter stands out from most other social media platforms because it places a significant emphasis on real-time information — events that are currently occurring and trends — and does so in only 280 characters (140 for Japanese, Korean, and Chinese).
Twitter is a popular alternative customer support medium for many brands. More than 80% of social customer service enquiries originate on Twitter, claim Twitter's advertisers. Twitter is referred to by Salesforce as the "New 1-800 Number for Customer Support."
Check out our Twitter Tips for Beginners if you're new to the platform. Explore the 20 Secret Ways to Utilize Advanced Search for Marketing and Sales after you've mastered the fundamentals.
16. Reddit, with 430 million MAUs
Reddit, which is well-known for its widely used upvoting feature, has been dubbed the "first page of the internet" because of its combination of current events, celebrity "ask me anything" (AMA) events, and in-depth discussions of esoteric issues.
There are subreddits (i.e., specialized forums) for just about anything. It's a good idea to do some research to see if there are well-liked subreddits that your company may be a part of because subreddits have varying levels of activity. You may sign up for r/beauty, for instance, if your company is a beauty brand. Be warned that the majority of subreddits forbid self-promotion. The purpose is to interact with users in the relevant subreddits by posting questions and getting answers, offering advice and resources, and taking part in debates.
You can advertise on Reddit in addition to posting your own material there and taking part in discussions.
17. 300 million MAUs on Quora
People can access information on a wide range of topics on the community-based Q&A website and app known as Quora. Based on views, votes, reviews, and shares, users score the questions and answers.
As a brand, you can set up a Quora page for your company or employ employee advocates to respond to inquiries about your goods or services or issues pertaining to your sector. You can utilize Quora's advertising platform to promote your company. Also, since 63% of consumers research big purchases online, it's a terrific way to find those who are actually seeking for a product or service.
18. 300 million MAUs on Skype
Skype is a free app that allows users to send instant messages and make and receive free video calls to other Skype users across a variety of platforms. In 2013, Skype became a separate business; now, Microsoft owns and develops Skype.
All of the usual Skype features and cutting-edge functionality are available in Skype for Business, making it ideal for small organizations. For instance, Skype for Business has enterprise-grade security, allows you to manage employee accounts, and integrates with Microsoft Office products. It also allows you to host online meetings with up to 250 participants.
19. 270 million MAUs for Microsoft Teams
Text chat, audio calls, and video calls are all supported by the collaboration and video conferencing tool Microsoft Teams. Additionally, it integrates with a number of other Microsoft 365 services, including PowerPoint and OneDrive.
As opposed to Skype, Microsoft Teams is better suited for bigger enterprises. In particular, Microsoft Teams is more feature-rich than Skype for Business and provides enterprise-grade security. It also enables groups of up to 10,000 people to interact and exchange huge files (up to 1TB per user).
Twenty. 250 million MAUs on LinkedIn
As a professional platform where industry professionals share content, network, and develop their personal brands, LinkedIn has developed from a straightforward job search engine and résumé site. It has evolved into a venue for companies to develop thought leadership in their sectors and draw top talent.
We have created a straightforward five-step process to assist you in expanding your LinkedIn Business Page. LinkedIn also provides advertising options, such as the capability to deliver customized ads straight to users' inboxes.
Use social media carefully and only when necessary.
Regardless of the social media platform's size, think about if your brand's target demographic is present there. Instead of producing mediocre material for five or more different platforms, it is preferable to focus on two to three sites and execute them properly.
P.S. Buffer allows you to schedule posts for a number of popular social networking platforms. Try Buffer for 14 days to see what it can accomplish for your business if you want to manage many social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or TikTok.