Throughout history, people have sought ways to network with one another. And, in this computerized age, people have found ways to be socially active on the internet, which is possible with the advent of numerous social networking platforms and apps.
The majority of the most popular social networking applications have been around for a while, but as smartphones get smarter, so do the applications, and now you can do much more than ever before. Now, even businesses grow and connect with their customers on social media. People no longer need to meet to carry out transactions.
Additionally, social media sites have increased rapidly in number. As per the statistics revealed, the number of social media users in Nigeria reached roughly 28 million in 2020 and as of January 2021, there were roughly 33.00 million social media users.
From fan favorites like Instagram and Facebook to newcomers like TikTok, there’s never been a better time to find a social network that’s tailored to your tastes. But with infinite new apps being launch every day it can be difficult to know which ones are worth using. To assist you with that we’ve collected a list of our preferences below.
Top 11 Social Media Networking Apps
1. WhatsApp
2. Facebook
3. Instagram
4. Twitter
5. YouTube
6. TikTok
7. Pinterest
8. Linkedln
9. Snapchat
10. Facebook Messenger
11. Telegram
1. WhatsApp
WhatsApp remains the most popular social messaging app, far ahead of Facebook Messenger.
There is a reason Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion, and that’s because WhatsApp is exactly what every messaging app should aim to be. It’s designed well, free to use even for international messaging, has a thriving user base, and lets you send texts, videos, voice messages, and pictures.
So many people in the business world have adopted this marketing technique to replace traditional social media marketing. As everyone uses smartphones, it has become so easy for marketers to reach their targeted audience by sending them promotional messages, videos, or audio files.
WhatsApp has opened up an easy way to get in touch with family and friends, both home and abroad. Currently, WhatsApp is the most effective and innovative marketing tool that is used for business promotion. It is used to promote your business and build a strong relationship with your customers. You can easily respond to customers with auto-replies and have better time management –a super effective way to save time and improve feedback.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
2. Facebook
With more than 2.7 billion users, Facebook is the one site where you’re likely to find friends, colleagues, and relatives from your current or former life.
Facebook is primarily used for sharing photos, links, and quick thoughts of a personal nature, but users can also show their support for brands or organizations by becoming a fan.
So many individuals and companies leverage Facebook groups to gather customers or communities in one place online. Unlike Facebook pages, Facebook groups aren’t used for advertising, but they can be very helpful in creating conversation
Facebook is a good choice if you want to reach an audience of adults and have engaging visual (or video) content that catches their attention, causes them to feel an immediate emotional response, and makes them seem excited to share it with others. And also if you want an easy way to create an online community around a topic or business then Facebook is the best platform for you.
With Facebook you can track your campaign to see if you are driving valuable results from your marketing strategies and if used correctly it can be a powerful tool for marketing and networking.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
3. Instagram
Instagram is a social networking app that has topped over 1 billion monthly users. It has become the home of influencers, bloggers, brands, small business owners, friends, and everyone in between.
Who’s on Instagram (and Why)? Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms for teens and young adults because of its unique designs which include a ton of filters. So if your target audiences are below 40 years of age then Instagram is a gold mine.
Since its launch, Instagram has proven to be a powerful marketing tool for businesses looking to expand their reach and the visibility of their products. Generally, the app is really a joy to use it works really well and serves its purpose.
To set yourself apart from other Instagram users it takes beautiful photography, stunning visuals, unique designs, selfie-style videos that speak directly to your audience, and a cohesive theme to your content.
You should leverage the potential results Instagram would bring to your business. Download the Instagram social media networking app on your smartphone using the links shared below to get started.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
4. Twitter
Twitter is perhaps the simplest of all social media networking apps, but Twitter happens to be one of the most fun and interesting ones available. Messages are limited to 280 characters or less, but that’s more than enough to post a link, share an image, communicate breaking news, or even trade thoughts with your favorite celebrity or influencer. Setting up a new Twitter profile takes only a few minutes thanks to Twitter’s easy-to-learn interface.
Twitter falls into the class of microblogging tools due to the short disconnected messages it distributes.
Twitter shares some features with the most common social media tools like Facebook Pinterest and YouTube. With Twitter, you can reach a large number of people quickly via tweets and retweets, follow the work of other experts in your field and build relationships with experts and other followers
You should take advantage of the potential results Twitter would bring to your business. To get started, use the links below to download the Twitter app on your mobile device.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
5. YouTube
As a video sharing service, YouTube has become so popular that its catalog of billions of videos has become known as the world’s second-largest search engine in some circles; allows you to get found on Google easily by people that need you
This site features everything from first-person product reviews to promotional videos and “how-to” instruction for virtually every topic or discipline. It allows users to share, rate, and comment on what they see.
YouTube has become a popular social media platform with more than 2 billion active monthly users. YouTube is broadly popular amongst both men and women ranging from ages 15 to 34 years old.
This platform is mainly for video content but depending upon your type of business and who your audience is, both long-form and short-form video content can work very well on this platform. Most viewers tune in for a mixture of education and entertainment, so whether you’re teaching your audience about new marketing strategies or streaming video gameplay, work hard to keep their attention throughout your videos.
You take advantage of the potential effects YouTube can have on your business. Download the YouTube social media app on your smartphone using the links shared below to get started.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
6. Linkedln
LinkedIn is one of the largest social networking sites out there for professionals. It can lead to a bunch of engagement and give you a platform where you can share updates about your company, news, upcoming events, and more.
As the site has grown, it’s become one of the best ways to build your CV, find a new job, and network with people within your professional circles.
It’s one of the mainstream social media sites that have actually geared towards business growth, and it’s great for meeting customers, getting in touch with vendors, recruiting new employees, and keeping up with the latest in business news. LinkedIn is probably the best place to post anything that matters to your company or career.
You take advantage of the potential results LinkedIn could bring to your career or company. Get started by downloading the LinkedIn social media networking app on your mobile device using the links below.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
7. Pinterest
Pinterest has become a very popular social bookmarking tool that helps you save creative ideas and finding creative inspiration when it comes to everything from cooking to DIY home projects, fashion, vacation ideas, interior design, business, and everything in between. With an audience mainly consisting of adult women, this social media platform is also often referred to as a crucial part of the product discovery journey.
With over 320 million monthly users, Pinterest boasts of their most concentrated audiences to be women amongst all social media sites. Nearly 80% of their users are female, especially among millennials.
The content that works best on this platform is Vertically-formatted images. . You should keep in mind when creating images that you want to include keywords and search terms.
You should prioritize Pinterest if your target audience is predominantly adult women, or if your business revolves around lifestyle, fashion, home décor, or DIY. Download the Pinterest social media networking app on your mobile device using the links below to get started.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
8. Snapchat
Snapchat was founded back in 2011, and it managed to become one of the most popular social media companies in record time with over 300 million monthly users Snapchat has introduced a rather different approach to interacting with people, and this is what makes it so popular.
While Snapchat lets you share short video clips with your followers, the app offers tons of additional features, such as attaching various images to your person while recording a short video clip, etc. App’s design is perfect, a combination of youthful and serious, which is exactly what the design should be for an app like this.
Snapchat is broadly popular amongst both men and women ranging from ages 18 and 24 years old. If you want to reach a young audience and have an affinity for creating bite-sized, engaging video content then you should prioritize Snapchat. Just like TikTok, don’t expect to flip on your camera and talk about your products all day, as most Snapchat users are here to be entertained.
Download the Snapchat social media networking app using the link shared below to get started.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
9. TikTok
TikTok is the new kid on the block. This social media app was launched 5 years ago and it has already received over 1 billion active users worldwide. This places TikTok amongst the top social media platforms in Nigeria and even globally for its sheer user figures.
The TikTok app is one of the world’s fastest-growing social media platforms. It offers an alternative to online sharing. The application allows users to create short videos with music, filters, and other features.
While it’s sometimes funny, sometimes cringe-worthy, it’s certainly addictive. TikTok provides its users with a platform to express themselves in a very creative way.
TikTok is one of the few platforms that cater to entertainment rather than lifestyle, which makes it stand out from the rest, and due to its simplicity of use, anyone can become a content provider, making it so attractive. This is why it appeals to so many content creators around the world and why they strive to improve their growth on the platform.
If you want to reach (and entertain) a young audience with fun video-based content that doesn’t often have a direct connection to your products or services then TikTok is the best platform for that. On this platform, being overly promotional will not lead to the building of a loyal following; instead, focus on being entertaining first.
Download the TikTok social media networking app on your mobile device using the links shared below to get started.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
10. Facebook Messenger
Messenger’s separation from Facebook’s main app in 2014 was a smart move by the company. There are now 700 million Messenger users all over the world, and the app has become much more than just a way to send a text message.
Messenger can now make video and phone calls over the internet and send stickers and animated GIFs with ease.
You should take advantage of the potential results Facebook Messenger would bring to your business. Download the Facebook Messenger social media networking app on your mobile device using the links shared below to get started.
Android: Download
iOS: Download
11. Telegram
Telegram is a freeware, cloud-based instant messaging app that works on any platform. Additionally, Telegram service supports end-to-end encrypted video calling, file sharing, VoIP, and several other features.
Telegram helps you share countless photos and videos with a limit of 1 GB (not even WhatsApp has that feature yet). It is a messaging application that focuses more on security and speed, which aid you to form group chats containing up to 5000 members and to stay in touch with all whereas WhatsApp is maxed at 250 members.
With these platforms you can create bots – You can create a chatbot of your own that will be responsible for a certain process, be it processing orders or customer consulting.
iOS: Download
In Summary
Social media networking apps have taken over the world, and if you as a business owner are not taking full advantage of it, you are leaving a huge sum of money on the table. You need to get involved and integrate social media into your business strategy. You don’t have to be on all social media platforms all you have to do is choose the one or three you feel and know will work best, and develop strategies to utilize those platforms effectively.
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