Top 3 Most Effective Social Media Sites

social media icons

Social media is everywhere, you can't escape it. You hear the term everyday, you see hashtags in every magazine and tv ad. The days of thinking of social media as a thing for the kids are over, and if you are not taking advantage of these 3 sites, your marketing efforts are suffering. So where should you spend your time on the social web to get the most bang for your buck?


Facebook is still the king of social media sites. Though people want to believe it is not what it use to be, the numbers are amazing. (Source)

  1. Worldwide there are 1.23 billion monthly active users.
  2. 4.5 billion likes are generated daily.
  3. 757 million people log in to Facebook daily!
  4. 300 million photos are uploaded daily.

That is a lot of people you could be reaching with the right strategy. The most important thing to remember when planning your Facebook strategy is your target demographic. In a report released this year, the largest growing demographic on Facebook has been the 55+ category. Conversely, 3 million teens have left Facebook in the last 3 years.


My personal favorite, Twitter is the most popular social site among 18-29 year olds. Preferred for it's mobile friendly platform, Twitter too, has some pretty compelling stats. (Source)

  1. "About a billion" registered users. (not sure how that works)
  2. 255 million monthly users and 36 million on desktop only.
  3. 46% of users use Twitter daily.
  4. Total number of users Twitter can handle 18 quintillion

A look at the numbers might have you believe that Twitter is less effective than Facebook, however, it all comes down to personal preference. Personally, I use Twitter to get bite sized pieces of information to and from people with whom I share common interests. I have a Facebook page, but not for the same reasons I use Twitter. Tapping into your niche market can really yield some effective results.


Instagram is where all those teenagers went. This social platform has seen a steady increase in numbers over the years, particularly in the younger demographics. However, there are some brands that are using this platform exceptionally well. (Source)

  1. 200 million active users.
  2. 7.3 million daily users.
  3. 85% increase in teens (ages 16-19) usage from 2012-2013.
  4. 23% of teens consider Instagram their favorite social network.

Content is king on Instagram and if your are keen on creating visual content, Instagram just might be for you. Research some brands taking advantage of the popularity of Instagram and get some ideas on the creative ways it can be utilized. If your primary demographic involves teens, it could really pay off in the end.

The bottom line is knowing your goals and tailoring your approach based on your key demographics is the only way to see results in a campaign. If you are looking for a new avenue to explore and you're not currently taking advantage of social media networks, now is the time. These are only 3 examples of great environments where brands are strengthening their image among their key demographics, and there are plenty more out there. A little research and a lot of creativity can go a long way in making an impression and generating impassioned followers.