Social media is moving target. It’s always changing, and every time you think you’re finally up to speed, there’s a new platform on the scene. Keeping tabs on all of them can be a daunting prospect. This year alone, we’ve seen Facebook change the way organic content reaches readers and Pinterest announce Buyable Pins.
More and more of these changes will keep coming, so how do you know which ones to take note of? Does it really make sense to try to respond to every update the moment it happens?
The good news is that you don’t have to react to the updates in real time. A better approach is to sit back, wait and observe. In time you’ll know which updates have staying power and which ones will have the greatest impact on how you research your audiences. You’ll save yourself time and energy setting up a new platform that may not be around next year.
That being said, marketers still need to make the right decisions and investments for their businesses as it relates to social media. Here is a Social Media Cheat Sheet, reprinted from 360i, of the “who’s who” and “what’s what” of social media today that will help you evolve your strategies in the social media landscape.
This is an overview for marketers of the top social media platforms that shows how the networks stack up against each other based on criteria like user base, KPIs, applications, and more.
Some key takeaways
- Facebook is the biggest platform with 1.44 Billion users and people are changing the way they’re using it, with more and more people using it to network
- Most brands are using the channels to increase brand awareness
- Each platform supports paid advertising
- Sales teams are integrating LinkedIn into prospecting and lead generation processes
And even though you don’t need to react to every update, it’s a good idea to stay in the loop with changes that are happening on your social media platforms. Check the blogs listed here every month to find out:
Download the Social Media Cheat Sheet here.