Understanding Different Social Media Platforms and Social Media Users
If you are building any type of online platform, it is essential to understand the different areas of the online realm.
Many people begin interacting on social media platforms without much knowledge on what types of platform they are on and what type of users the platform is meant for.
Having an understanding of what social media platforms are and who they are created for can help in the goals many people have with social media.
In this article I will explain the different types of social media platforms out there, the different types of social media users and how this knowledge can assist people looking to utilize social media as a tool.
What is the current definition of social media in 2021?
The Merriam Webster defines social media as, “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos)”.
With the advancement in technology has come a rapid growth in social media platforms and communities.
There are numerous ways to connect with people and businesses online that there needs to be more conversation around the different types of social medias out there and the different users on that go on said platforms.
Let’s take a look at the different types of social medias out there and get an understanding for the variations of online experiences that are now available to many across the globe.
Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites are platforms dedicated to connecting people across various demographics and promote cross communication, collaboration and community building.
Most social networking sites now have some form of advertising features that encourage users to promote themselves to their target audience members. Businesses are able to promote launches and announcements while increasing brand identity and presence through the advertisement reach.
There are also many opportunities for research due to the analytic systems and tracking features built into many social networking sites today.
Taking information directly from your account allows for viable research results and testable probabilities that can assist in better serving your online community.
Engagement is one of the largest benefits of social networking sites. The desire for genuine communication has been on the rise, and networking sites allow for direct communication and a more personalized approach to building relationships.
Social Review Sites
Social review sites are dedicated to hearing the consumers perspective and creating space for conversations between reviewers and business owners.
Many people depend on reviews before putting their money into a business, therefore creating an account on a social review site is essential in ensuring you will be able to gain trust from your ideal customers.
Businesses take information they receive from social review sites to solve business problems and develop more improved products or services for their customers. Customers feel more heard by the business and gain a sense of belonging with the business.
Overall, good performance on social review sites can offer high conversion rates for your business.
Video Sharing Sites
Video sharing sites consist on primarily video content that users can watch on numerous forms of technology. Creators are able to upload their content to be streamed by users across a wide the internet.
YouTube has become one the most popular video streaming sites for people looking to share their video creations, ideas, and information with the world.
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Many platforms that did not include video elements have pushed towards developing featured catered to video content creation due to the high demand from internet users across the globe.
Instagram just announced that they are no longer strictly an image based platform, as they push towards developing more features to assist with their video content elements. Video content is clearly here to stay and persist to advance in the social media space.
Image Sharing Sites
Snapchat, Pexels, and Instagram are dedicated to visual content whether that be informative, entertaining, or personal. Allowing a space for people to share and interact with others visual content has transformed the way in which people connect online.
On the business end of this social media, many businesses have utilized image sharing sites to gain user-generated content that can better build their brands identity and build community trust. People love seeing others experiences with a company, and many encourage businesses to share the experiences their customers have there.
Even though video content is on the rise, there will always be space on the internet for image based content.
Blogging Communities
People also develop communities online where they give a more detailed breakdown on their niche. Blogs allow for much more interpretation and explanations.
Many people build large communities through blogging and create content that is essential to their audience members. When starting out a blog there can definitely be some fear, but many use their blog to discuss the things they are passionate about and discuss with like-minded individuals.
On the business side of this social media, many businesses use blogs as an extension of already created content from additional social media sites. Their blog is essentially the transcript to another form of content already curated.
Discussion Forums/Sites
Discussion sites are dedicated to the question and answer format and the entire platform is structured around community discussion forums. Reddit, Quora, and GamesSpot are great examples of discussion forums and offer endless information in numerous industries.
These platforms are amazing for research purposes. Many people depend on forums to find overall public consensus and behavioral patterns within communities. Having platforms based upon user generated questions also assist in more personalized and direct research question development.
Another consideration to make with discussion sites is, as a professional you are able to go onto these platforms and directly communicate with your target audience based off of the current questions they may have in your industry.
Taking time each week to hop onto a forum site and answer some industry related questions can develop further credibility in your career and increase your brands online presence across the board.
Sharing Economy Networks
These are the most up and coming social medias out there. For example, sharing economy networks are platforms that offer direct financial interactions between consumers and business owners. AirBnB, Toro, and DoorDash are great examples of this due to the direct resource accessibility the networks have for its users.
What types of users are on these social media sites?
There are four main types of social media users currently defined. Although, many creators and professionals have created their own category of social media users for their industry.
Therefore, take this information as needed and understand that social media is still developing and with that will come more knowledge and agreeable concepts across the industry.
Understanding the different types of users on social media can assist you in positioning yourself in a place of leverage based off of your social media desires.
The Creator
The creator is someone that comes onto social media with content to share to an audience with hopes of a response. People that create on social media are creating with purpose and with intent to gain notice from like-minded individuals.
Many creators tend to keep up with social media trends and their audience typically looks to them for inspiration, entertainment, or knowledge. These are the users on social media that have potential to become influencers, brand ambassadors and public figures online.
The Sharer
The sharer is the person on social media dedicated to sharing their experiences whether they have an audience or not. These users are typically very intentional with who they connect with online and are highly interactive with the accounts they choose to follow. Many of these users are prone to leaving reviews on their experiences and offering valuable insight to businesses and creators on what they do and do not like about the content they are consuming.
Many businesses should focus their efforts on targeting this type of user regardless of whether they have large influence or not. Due to the quantity of experience shared from these users, their word gets around one way or another.
The Bonder
The bonder is the social media user dedicated to connecting with the world through social media. These users are highly focused on community and relationship building online. They typically build communities with high engagement rates which is amazing for brands looking for genuine conversions.
A large majority of social media users can be considered pondered due to many people going online to find like-minded people and communities they can interact with. Businesses tend to mainly target these users due to them being the majority.
The Professional
The professional is a social media user that is highly intentional, critical and goal driven on social media. These users platforms are typically highly calculated, planned, and polished. The main goal of the professional social media user is to expand their network and professional credibility.
Social media has opened so many further opportunities for professionals to come and expand their careers into new realms. Along with have direct communication with clients, customers, and related professionals.
Understanding the different types of social media users is essential in identifying who is currently in your audience and creating content that draws in the users you desire.
Take a look at your social media platforms and figure out what type of user you are and what types of social media platforms do you enjoy.
