It seems like a long ago when social media platforms like Yahoo Messenger, Orkut, and Facebook were all about connecting with people and sharing your life with friends and family through an online platform. However, it seems not so long ago when these platforms reincarnated into these lords of marketers and advertisers. Almost 4.59 billion people are using social media platforms, which is predicted to rise to almost 6 billion by 2027 making it the most powerful way to reach and connect with people on a global level. Thus, one cannot even fathom a brand not having a social media strategy for their campaigns.
We, therefore, cannot ignore that with such a vast network of sellers and consumers operating online, the saturation of platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. is bound to begin. As a business owner, you need to tap into the white spaces that are either niche or underrated because those platforms are the ones that provide customized opportunities and different demographics.
Here are some of the underrated social media platforms which are ignored by businesses:
Quora
It is a very simple question-answer platform wherein one can ask anything and everything and whoever knows the answer comments. Personally, I feel it is an excellent platform for brands as it allows them to interact with the target audience through their knowledge and questions.
With over 300 million monthly active users in 2022, one can generate a strong follower base and promote their brand and campaigns by sharing industry knowledge and expertise.
Relatively niche compared to other platforms, Pinterest has lately been used by a number of brands to reach the target audience. With 445 million active users, the platform relies heavily on visual presentations and aesthetics which provides an extra edge and vibrancy for the brands and the viewers both.
One piece of advice would be to not blatantly sell your business and push people for action. Instead, take an indirect route by engaging with other businesses from the same industry and then create a network of your own.
Facebook Messenger
Unlike Facebook, Messenger allows you to build intimacy with your target audience. Thus, it is one of the most used platforms by marketers to generate leads and boost conversions. Why I like this platform the most because it operates in two ways- click messenger ads and sponsored messages, both of which are assisted by chatbots that help the customers stay informed round the clock. This makes your brand look more reliable and credible in the eyes of the customers.
Similar to Quora, this platform also has a question-answer interface wherein people interact on all topics from social news, video games sports, politics, etc. However, what makes it different is that it is one of the hardest platforms to use for promoting your business due to its strict rules. Business owners can increase their brand influence by interacting with the users and then gradually informing them about their products and/or services.
What’s best? Reddit has been estimated to have around 1.7 billion monthly visitors, making your business reach a vast network of target audiences from all walks of life.
Flickr
It is a great place to showcase pictures about your brand which helps you to link it back to the website. It has been overlooked for years now, thus, providing a space to be tapped by marketers and advertisers.
Moreover, by becoming a part of this platform, one can boost their online presence and engagement which helps in generating traffic to the site.
