Have you been wondering which social media platforms are out there? Or maybe you have heard of a few but never had the chance to conquer them?

As a freelancer, entrepreneur and or a small businesses owner it might be very helpful to be up to date with the most marketable media channels in 2020. Each platform will offer you different tools that you need to increase your brand reach, as well as network and engage with the right people to advance your business goals.

To make things a little less complicated, we have researched and created a list of some of the most popular social media sites. Here it is, the official social media dictionary that can help you and your business thrive to success. Here we go!

Facebook



Facebook is the top social networking website that enables users to create profiles, upload pictures, and share videos. Facebook is currently the largest social media site in the world.



Purpose: A platform where users go in order to stay updated, express their issues and or recommend different tools in term of your businesses. Best used when providing your audience by light factual information.



Paid ads? Yes, 87.1% of marketers in the US use Facebook for businesses purposes to connect with their audience. Facebook ads cost in 2019: The average Facebook ads CPC starts from $0.22. The average Facebook CPM starts from $5.12.

Youtube



YouTube is a video sharing social media website that allows users to upload their own content on to the platform. Content can be shared and express in any type of video form.



Purpose? For businesses to create their own content and educate their users in video form. Content can be shared and express in any type of visual form. Best used when capturing your audience by emotion.



Paid ads? You can grow your business with YouTube advertising. This platform is a must for any businesses interested in the power of video marketing.

Instagram

Instagram is a visual on line platform where users upload images and videos in order to gain social likes. Users have the option to broadcast live or upload small snippets of live broadcast which are called stories.

Purpose? Small business owners can set up an instagram account, change the settings to a business profile that will enable multiple business features. Create photo contests to engage your users.

Paid ads? Yes, Instagram advertising costs between $0.20 to $6.70, depending on the bidding model. For CPC or cost-per-click, advertisers pay $0.20 to $2 per click. For CPM, or cost-per-impressions, advertisers pay $6.70 per 1000 impressions.

Twitter

Twitter is an online social network that uses a combination of instant messaging and real-time information and entertainment. It allows users to post “tweets” which are publications that are up to 140 characters.

Purpose? Twitter is a great platform for businesses to engage and create a relationship with their following by using tweets.

Paid ads? Yes, For a flat monthly fee of $99, Twitter will automatically promote your tweets according to your preferred targeting. However, it’s not listed as the top platforms to enable paid ads.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media platform that is directed towards the online professional world. It allows users to build a in depth portfolio in regards to work experience. Mostly used by employers and recruiters who are looking for job candidates.

Purpose? It’s a good place for businesses to find valuable professionals to recruit and network. Best place to post factual articles, updates and organisational changes.

Paid ads? Yes, LinkedIn advertising costs vary by the advertiser, LinkedIn requires companies to bid a minimum of $2 for cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-impression (CPM) campaigns.

Tumbler

Tumbler: a social networking website that services users to post multi-media. Users can join communities and participate in cultural dialogues to expand their ideas.

Purpose? Tumbler is used for creative and artistic mashups, however entrepreneurs can use this platform as their webpage/blog. Best place to express your creative side.

Paid ads? Yes, tumbler offers sponsored ads posts that appear in users’ dashboards but maintain the look and feel of organic content.

500PX

500PX: s a networking community for aspiring photographers who want to premier showcase their work publicly.

Purpose? Creatives utilize the platform to share and discover high quality photography, allow users to gain exposure and opens possibilities for paid work.

Paid ads? No, however there is an option for users to purchase your photos.

Flicker

Flicker: is an online photography sharing application that allows users to show off their favorite photos and videos to the public as well as sharing their own photos, videos and blog, they take with their own personal camera phone.

Purpose? For photographers to create an online presence that engages users to follow and promote their work.

Paid ads? Yes, flicker offers paid content packages. Due to Flickr’s “no advertising” rule

Deviant Art

Deviantart: An online social networking platform for artists who are in the field of digital art, sculpting, pixel art/films and anime.

Purpose? To gain a community based network where artists produce, share, promote their own original artwork.

Paid ads? Yes, there are paid ads with the option

Behance.net

Behance.net: Is an online platform that enables web designers to showcase their portfolios of visual work such as graphic design, fashion, illustration, photography, and more.

Purpose? For creatives to display their portfolio, there is no direct purchasing.

Paid ads? No, however users can link their online store to their profile.

Etsy

Etsy is an e-commerce website that allows entrepreneurs to sell all different types of hand crafted or vintage goods that fall into numerous categories.

Purpose? To sell handmade and vintage items, such as jewelry, bags, clothing, home decor and furniture, toys, art, as well as craft supplies and tools.

Paid ads? Yes, but the default of Etsy ads is that there is a minimum budget of 1.00 dollar per day.

Pinterest:



Pinterest: Is a social media platform that allows users to save and discover photos that inspire them. This platform is used for inspiration for catalogues and ideas that users can save.

Purpose? It can be a very useful place for entrepreneurs to get inspired. Pinterest provides businesses with a robust set of advertising tools to get their content in front of new users. In Pinterest’s case, they are called Promoted Pins.

Paid ads? Yes, small to midsized businesses can expect to pay around 10 cents to $1.50 per click for Pinterest advertising. The minimum bid for CPC campaigns is 10 cents.

Medium

Medium: It’s a publishing platform as well as a social network mixed together. Both professionals and amateurs writers can share their stories. Most articles are free of charge however there are blogs that do cost money.

Purpose? For writers to share their stories to increase organic traffic to their webpage.

Paid ads? Yes, You Can Put Ads on Your Medium Stories, this distributes proportionally to the stories that the individual member engaged with that month.

Reddit

Reddit: is a social news platform that allows users to discuss and vote content that has been submitted by other users. Users can gain points by the ranking of other readers in the community.

Purpose? It’s great for building a community rather than self promotion. The value of input and output in the community counts as a large percentage.

Paid ads? Yes, Reddit is currently offering a flat $0.75 CPM for self-serve advertising—you’ll get the same price regardless of the choices you make in targeting or content. There is a minimum buy of $5 for any individual sponsored link.

Meet up

Meetup: is a social media platform that enables users who have the same interests and or hobbies to engage in a group chat, with a possibility to potentially meet offline in the future.

Purpose? To gather a group of individuals who are interested in the same type of content to increase their chances of collaboration.

Paid ads? No paid advertisements, however there is a paid monthly fee for premium that ranges between $9.99 and $23.99 a month. This allows you to organize up to three groups with unlimited members.



Soundcloud

Soundcloud is an online music sharing platform that allows people to discover different selection of music with a large range of genres. Creators share and monetize their content with a global audience as well as receive feedback.

Purpose? SoundCloud has the ability for artists to share their own records, which allows their following to add their music to their playlist.

Paid ads? Yes, artists can share and monetize their content with a global audience.

Yelp

Yelp is a crowdsourcing review platform where users are able to share their personal opinions and honest reviews about any local business.

Purpose? To help users find some of the top quality places in their area.

Paid ads? Yes, Yelp has a self service advertisement system which enables businesses owners to get more customers. The CPC you pay varies widely – advertisers will pay as low as $0.30 per click (for some food establishments) to $40+ per click for more competitive niches like law. You can choose how much you want to spend monthly.

Trip Advisor

Trip-advisor is a user generated platform used for traveling, it allows users to book reservations such as lodges, hotels, activities and restaurants.

Purpose? This platform is based off of crowdsourcing reviews so that users know which places are recommended by past visitors.

Paid ads? Yes, small business owners can increase their listing on trip advisor for a fee, to gain exclusive access to powerful subscriber-only tools including. The cost to advertise on TripAdvisor using Business Advantage starts at $499 a year.



Viber

Viber is a social media messaging application that enables direct messaging between employees.

Purpose? It allows users to communicate via messages, multimedia and voice calls.

Paid ads? Yes, Viver offers a great amount of tools to grow your business such as Viber ads, in-app e-commerce.

Xing

Xing is an online job oriented platform that allows users to keep track of the latest industry trends and discover professional events such conferences, seminars, and trade shows.

Purpose? For professionals to connect and share insights about job opportunities.

Paid ads? Yes, you choose the price as ads on XING work on an auction basis, meaning that your ad competes with other ads aimed at the same target group at that given time. The cost per click (CPC) rate is usually between 3 and 10 euros.

Trulia

Trulia is a real estate database that offers for-sale and rental listings and connects people with listing agents.

Purpose? Trulia gives users a visual breakdown of the monthly costs for a property as well as crime map data.

Paid ads? Yes, Trulia offers self paid sponsorship leads from local sellers. Leads are generated when a consumer requests a Trulia home estimate. Plus, you will be featured in Trulia’s Home Estimate Report for consumers, so you can build your brand as the go-to seller’s agent in your market.

Zillow

Zillow: Zillow is a real estate database that offers for-sale and rental listings and connects people with listing agents.



Purpose? providing users with a highly graphic experience when searching for properties

Paid ads? Yes, they offer a free listing place however, you can upgrade to receive more benefits. You are charged according to the market and competition, you can expect to be charged anywhere from 20$ -1000$ impressions in a high-end market.

Foursquare

Foursquare: is a social networking application that enables entrepreneurs to discover and share new information in regards to local businesses and attractions in the area.

Paid ads? Foursquare has opened up their self-service ad platform to a few thousand local businesses and they will open it to more in the coming . There is no word if businesses are required to maintain a specific click-through-rate (CTR) or check-in rate, if there is a minimum monthly ad spend, or what the low end cost of those ad clicks or chick-ins will be.

Blogger.com

Blogger.com: is a blogging platform that is owned by google, it allows business owners to communicate visitors by commenting and interacting with one other

Purpose? It allows companies to keep clients and customers up to date with ongoing changes.

Paid ads? Yes, they offer AdSense the program that allows bloggers and website owners to make money by displaying Google ads.





There you go, the best social media platforms to use for your small business. Once you have sorted through the list, choose the best platforms that speak to your brand identify. The last important step is to now add your icons to your e-mail sign off. This will increase the chances of a customer to click and become apart of your business community online.







