Table of Contents

The Pros & Cons of Every Social Media Platform

Multitasking has become a common theme in our lives. It’s a wonder how we manage it all.

We depend on our smartphones for work, school, and our personal and social lives. When was the last time you left home without your phone and kept on going? The internet has become a significant part of our daily lives. So too has social media.

What is Social Media Used For?

The list of social media platforms is growing, and well-known platforms like Facebook are always evolving and adding new features. With a greater and greater need for a social presence and an overwhelming amount of platform choices, it can be hard to pick which social channels to use.

You might not want to spread yourself too thin by managing a channel on every imaginable platform, but you also don’t want to miss great brand-awareness opportunities.

The Right Social Media Platform for You

You need to have the right approach to make the most out of social media. Moreover, you need to be on the right platform for it to work at all. Before you jump into the deep end of one single social media app, you should consider doing your research to know how each can benefit and hurt your business. Not every app is built the same, and their differences make them great — even if one app is not right for your strategy, it might be beneficial when added as a side strategy along with your main interests. Here are the most popular social media apps right now, and the pros and cons of each.

TikTok

Its popularity makes it one of the most sought-after apps when it comes to social media marketing, as people of all ages are flocking to the app to share videos of their own in hopes of getting big. While your business can create its own channel and create unique videos to gain views, you might not fare that well compared to an already-established app. Your best option might be to use it for affiliate and influencer purposes.

With some users becoming celebrities in their own right, it’s a good idea to use established stars to promote your products and services, whether it is a plugin of one of their videos or having them share an affiliate code somewhere across their network. With this popularity, you’ll want to jump on before it’s too late. While the app doesn’t look like it will be waning anytime soon, it’s better to establish yourself before anything changes.

Pros of TikTok:

Currently the most downloaded app
Popular with younger generations
Grew in popularity from Asia and is now established in the U.S. and the Western world

Cons of TikTok:

Currently does not allow for outright advertising
Still hasn’t proved itself as a marketing platform
Not as popular in some European nations

Facebook

Facebook has seen its fair share of bad news these past few years. Yet, while it has had its share of trouble the past few years, it is still one of the most populated social media platforms, with 2.96 billion users having a profile on the site.

Due to its early emergence in the social media world, Facebook remains a powerhouse. Users can personalize their profiles and share photos, thoughts, posts, and more. Businesses have similar power, being able to create business-themed pages where they can promote events, share menus, foster an events calendar, and interact with customers.

Marketing through the platform comes in numerous forms, where businesses can utilize Facebook for affiliate marketing strategies or by placing ads that are purchased directly through Facebook. All businesses have to do, in either case, is create curated content developed for their targeted audience and place an ad related to said pinpointing. However, it should be said that the user base is getting older when compared to other apps — the biggest growth is seen among the 55+ age group. So, you’ll need to consider what you’re selling and how it relates to those you’re marketing to.

Pros of Facebook:

Massive audience and reach
Good for both B2B and B2C content
Some of the best targeting options available to marketers
Pairs well with Google Ads

Cons of Facebook:

The site is lessening the number of ads on its Newsfeed
Particularly popular among Baby Boomers
Requires a lot of content creation

YouTube

People around the globe watch over one billion hours of content every day through YouTube, making it one of the most popular websites — and the internet’s premier video-hosting site. The site is rife with content, users, and content creators, making it the perfect place for brands to advertise. Whether you produce traditional ads to play before a video or work with a content creator to have them promote your products and services, YouTube is an avenue that should not be looked past.

Due to a change in advertising models, many creators have begun relying on affiliate marketing to promote themselves, featuring personalized ads for apps like Honey before their videos. That direct line of promotion can be incredibly important for a brand, as having a trusted voice as a spokesperson can go a long way.

Pros of YouTube:

Premier video website
Great targeting options
Second-largest search engine after Google
Integrates with Google Ads
Awesome opportunities for affiliate marketers

Cons of YouTube:

Producing your own videos costs time and money
Many users rely on AdBlock to avoid pre-video ads

Twitter

Twitter remains another notable platform, considered the most well-known and influential alongside Facebook and Instagram. With brands flocking to the website in droves to establish themselves as personalities, users are finding it easier than ever to interact with the companies they’re interested in and to make purchases with them.

Remaining fresh on Twitter can be its own problem, along with starting from nothing. Similar to Instagram and Facebook, it’s difficult to generate organic traffic when you have no followers, to begin with. In most cases, it requires the assistance of another brand or personality that can promote you to their niche audience. This promotion effort can go a long way, providing you with followers, engagement, and lead generation.

Pros of Twitter: