The arrival of social media sites has changed not only the way we communicate with one another, but  also changed how we market businesses, blogs, and related activities. Reaching your target audience has been made to be easier and quicker using social media. We can now correspond directly with one another and most of the time, instantly. If you are looking for which social media sites to market your blog or small business on, the following is a comprehensive list of top sites; choose one or two or choose them all. It’s up to you!

1) Facebook

By far one of the most social media sites today, Facebook has more than 1.5 billion active users each and every month. This platform is awesome for small businesses looking to advertise products or events and target local users. Now that you can sell products directly through Facebook via Shopify, which provides a secure shopping cart, with packages as low as $9 a month. Furthermore, you can place ads and in addition, can pay for more publicity of your ads. Facebook is one of the most efficient ways to advertise, potentially reaching more customers than any other social media network.

2) Twitter

Another social media giant, Twitter’s ability for your posts to go viral is pure gold. You can post updates, recent news, quirky remarks, and make sure to use subject appropriate hashtags. Hashtags can help build momentum, bringing your tweet to even more potential customers. Also, using Twitter for the Business page can help you promote your presence, and by sponsoring tweets, you can get your stuff in front of even more users. You can increase your followers, which will bring your business more customers. Make the most of Twitter and other online resources.

3) Google Plus

There are a number of good things going for Google Plus. First of all, Google Plus’s SEO value alone is a must-use tool for any small business. Additionally, Google has many resources, such as Google My Business. You know when you Google a business and it’s all there in a well-structured listing, the hours, contact information, and including Google Map directions. If your business isn’t listed yet or you want to edit the information, Google My Business will guide you through the entire process. While it’s not Facebook, just being a product of Google makes it business-worthy.

4) Yelp

While everyone seems aware of the bad reviews posted on Yelp, the truth is Yelp has more than 140 million active users. Yelp is THE PLACE for reviews, good and bad. Positive reviews on here can lead new customers to your doorstep. Don’t wait for someone to review you, go ahead and create a business profile for yourself. New customers can then find you, and you can ask loyal customers to leave positive reviews.

5) LinkedIn

LinkedIn is your online resume. Over 500 million professionals have made this basically the world’s most viewed professional media feed. A sound profile should include business history, core objectives, and even recommendations from customers. You can boost your content on all devices, deliver personal ads, and generate leads in minutes. LinkedIn provides access to real, member-generated demographic data for reaching your target audience. Professionals are helping professionals; you need to get ”linked in”, too.

6) Instagram

Another site that utilises the usage of hashtags, Instagram allows you to highlight your products and services with photos visually. Although this platform may be better for products, you can still use this social media website to promote business accomplishments and raising business awareness. With 400 million monthly active users, Instagram boasts the highest engagement for any social media sites. Set up a profile with your bio, link it to your website, and then post pics with a call-to-action (CTA). As a result, user-generated content causes ripple effects, growing your Instagram awareness and business standing.

7) Pinterest

You really don’t want to ignore this marketing platform. Most believe it’s just for sharing pictures and cool hobbies, but there’s so much more to Pinterest than that. First of all, you can pin clickable images that lead back to your website. Next, with its more than 175 million monthly users, perspective customers are constantly looking for new ideas to try and favourite trends to buy. When they like and share your image, it’s posted again. Then another potential customer sees it, likes it, shares it, and it’s posted again and again. Pinterest is like Instagram in that it’s a visually sharing platform, but it has a completely different user base. Make a business profile or make an album on your personal page. Just make sure to share pics with a CTA getting customers to your website. Pinterest is an awesome middle man!

8) Foursquare

A listing on Foursquare can help potential customers find you. Over 2 million businesses have already joined and are getting access to Foursquare’s business tools. Claim your Foursquare listing, verify that you’re the owner, and get started. Over 50 million customers discover new businesses, frequent favourite hangouts, and share what they love about them. This platform is designed for attracting local customers. Even though Foursquare may not have a huge social following, the information shows up in search results. Hence, your online presence gets a boost. Better boost means higher SEO.

Sign up here if you are still not using Foursquare.

9) Tumblr

Tumblr shouldn’t be overlooked as a marketing platform simply because it has 300 million unique monthly users looking at 200 million blogs with 80 million posts. That’s massive. You can sponsor posts which work just like regular posts except they are more highly visible. With Tumblr, you need to know your audience (as with any social media). It’s a creative outlet for creators to find an audience for their content. Presenting your products or services in creative ways may get a lot of attention. You can post videos, pics, chats, audio messages, quotes, and you can reblog your favourite posts. If you can find a creative way to reach potential customers, you can find it on Tumblr.

Sign up here if you are still not using Tumblr

10) Snapchat

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media image processing applications. Brands and content creators produce daily stories that engage and excite audiences, bringing them new customers. Snapchat stories, which last only 24 hours, are a string of snaps used to create a video narrative. There are over 1 billion views of Snapchat stories each day. Furthermore, with this application, you can share promo codes, demo your products or services, have contests, and partner with influencers as a strategy for increasing your brand’s awareness. If you want to purchase advertising, you can also buy Snap Ads. After all, Snapchat has over 100 million daily users. That is a lot of users who can see your and your ads.

11) YouTube

YouTube is a social networking platform which allows users to upload video content and interact with other users’ videos; this can be utilised by any business, literally. With Youtube being the second largest search engine and also owned by Google, it stands to reason that if you want SEO with your videos, using Youtube is going to put them at the top on Google. Youtube has 1 billion users, so sign up for a business account, create your profile, upload some interesting videos, interact with others, do Live, and grow your fandom. You can also pay for advertising on Youtube, but most people hate ads at the beginning of their videos, choosing to skip them as soon as possible. Users want to watch the videos they clicked on, not some ad. Make interesting videos about your products or services. Try it out.

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12) Mogul

If you’re a female, this platform is for showcasing female business owners and connecting them with other business owners. Mogul reaches 18 million users weekly, enabling its worldwide members to connect, share information, and obtain opportunities from one another. In addition, Mogul can help improve your skills by offering you a chance to participate in award-winning courses and award-winning webinars which have been used by top companies such as Snapchat and NBC.

13) Reddit

Reddit is a social media, news, and entertainment app where you can submit content in the form of posts, videos, gifs, and links. The site’s users vote up or down posts, and more popular posts will appear on their main page. Reddit considers itself ”the front page to the internet”, and it certainly gets lots of traffic. It’s a place you can interact with customers and potential customers by encouraging user submissions, creating a network, and posting latest news and calendar events for making your post more popular and garnering more attention.If you have a product or brand that thrives on interacting and gaining feedback from people, Reddit is a great place to do it.

Sign up here if you are still not using Reddit

14) TripAdvisor

If your business caters to travellers in any way, more than likely, your business already appears on TripAdvisor. All you have to do is put the world’s largest travel site to work for you. Claim your listing for free and access their powerful business-building tools. This site has more than 390 million monthly visitors with over 500 million reviews and opinions on 49 sites in 28 languages. This site reaches almost everywhere. Use it to enhance your listing, manage your reviews, and track your performance. Business not listed? Go to TripAdvisor’s home page here to get your business listed in it.

15) AngelList

If you’re looking to raise some extra funds for your startup, AngelList is a social network that connects startups with investors. ”Where the World Meets Startups” is their tag line and it’s filled with seasoned entrepreneurs interested in helping out the next generation. AngelList investments are better fitted for businesses that are already established enough beyond the startup phase, but still, need capital to develop a product or fund a marketing strategy. Even if you don’t end up getting funding, you’ll definitely get knowledge.

Sign up here if you are still not a member of AngelList.

16) Affluence

Affluence is more of a private social network for accomplished businessmen and women to connect with other industry experts. There’s a free Business Analysis available on the site which helps find your company’s strengths and weaknesses. Affluence can help to raise the profitability margin of your business in addition to helping you attain your business goals. You can also connect with other business owners and share information. As the name infers, you have to be affluent to join this group, meaning, your business has to be bringing in some dough if you want to join this page.

17) Quora

Quora is a useful place to build your company’s visibility by sharing information about it and your industry. Quora is a question and answer platform that allows you to answer questions as an expert in your chosen field, or fields. By completing your profile, whenever you answer a question or comment on a subject, your info is shown as well, leading potential customers to your business. This site is also a great marketing tool, allowing you to use consumer’s questions and complaints to improve your products and services. In order to use Quora, just make an account.

18) Talkbiznow

Talkbiznow is perfect for a business that’s new to social media. Signing up is easy, and once you build your profile, you can connect with others, manage your calendar, store files, host webinars, and manage all your other social media sites via Social One. Talkbiznow also provides business services for small businesses and professionals, simplifying essential services for easy integration. This platform makes it possible for businesses to network and collaborate in addition to expanding in directions never thought possible. To begin using this site, go to the homepage, and click on ”get started.”

19) Ryze

Ryze is referred to as ”the original social network for business”, and it can be used to expand your company’s visibility and customer base. Apply for a free membership, and once you’ve been accepted, you can begin with a free networking homepage. Once you’ve done that, you can start gaining new followers, connecting with more than 1 million members around the world, over 1000 organisational networks, and make quality business contacts. In addition, you can get practical advice, tips, and resources from other in your field and make company deals with Ryze’s members.

20) Meetup

Meetup is for offline meetings of individuals who share a common interest, generally after initially meeting online. Meetup is the largest single organiser of meetings. Furthermore, Meetup has a significant user base and informational social tools, effective for accomplishing business objectives. After signing up, you’ll need to create your Group, then lists its information and relevant topics. Once you’ve paid the applicable fee, you are ready to start organising meet ups. This platform is awesome for networking.

21) Focus

Focus has a network of thousands of lead business and technology experts who are willing to share what they know with you. Focus’ mission is to make business expertise available to everyone. Experts in hundreds of different topics and markets are waiting to help you by giving you advice and helping you in making a difficult decision. Who better to answer your questions about a specific type than an expert who’s already been there, done that? Ask for help; it will pay off in the long run.

22) WhatsApp

WhatsApp was recently acquired by Facebook and is one of the fastest-growing communication apps with over 500 million active users. WhatsApp can be used in a number of ways, such as internal team communication, customer communication, customer service, and other creative ways. People today do NOT want you calling them, but they are a LOT more willing to respond to a personal message. When given a choice, most people would prefer to receive a message over a phone call any and every time. Other creative ways to use WhatsApp include food ordering if you’re a restaurant or for medical consultation. The ways of utilising this app are endless and ultimately up to you.

23) EFactor

EFactor is a community for specifically designed for entrepreneurs, having the largest network of them in addition to having over 25 thousands investors as well. EFactor provides online and offline resources for small business owners, such as business knowledge, funding, revenue gains, and cost savings. Members can exchange ideas with experts and take advantage of the many exclusive tools, deals, and help offered.

24) Vine

Vine is a Twitter app that allows you to create 6-second looping video. It’s easy to operate and to post. This platform can be a viable and valuable commodity for businesses. Here’s just some of the things you can do and ways you can use Vine: show snippets of happy customers (loving your product or service), display your products, or make potential customers interested in what you have, whet their appetite by generating a buzz. After downloading the Vine app, sign up using your Twitter account or email, and create an account. Now you can utilise your 6-second videos however you see fit.

25) Flickr

Flickr is one of the most well-known photo sharing sites in the world, second only to Instagram. Two of it’s core functions, photo sharing and storing, can provide valuable marketing ability for businesses looking to grow their brands. This is a social media network which allows you to offer your brand online, build brand awareness and recognition, generate leads, and enhance SEO. In order to set up a Flickr account, you’ll need to sign up using your Yahoo account. If you don’t already have one, making one doesn’t take long at all and can be done easily. Once you’ve done that, you’re reading to start uploading photos.

26) VKontakte

If you are looking to engage with potential customers in Eastern Europe and Russia, this is not only an ideal tool for you, it’s just the right place to be. Often referred to as the Russian Facebook, VK is the go-to social network in brand engagement for businesses looking to sell their products and services in this area. Creating a page on VK is so easy; there’s a step by step instruction process you can follow. Don’t forget to enter a detailed description of your business and what it does.

27) Periscope

Periscope can provide a better, more personal way for you to connect with customers. Another Twitter owned app; Periscope allows anyone to broadcast videos for free. This gives small businesses a chance for easy and affordable ways to communicate with customers in real time. A few ways to make Periscope work for your is by using it for live events, like live question and answer sessions, or by doing product demos or tutorials. There’s a lot more creative ways to use Periscope for reaching out to your target audience.

There’s still plenty more sites to post your small business or blog to; just keep looking. If you have something that people want, it will sell; you just have to find the right market. A lot of these platforms, apps, and sites can help you direct your marketing at your key audience. You can learn how to fine tune your marketing techniques. Obviously, the more social contacts you have, the better, so use them all! Use every single social media website that will allow you to. I’m rooting for you! Get your business growing!

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