6 Social Media Apps To Keep An Eye On This Year

With so many social media apps constantly popping up all over the place, it can be tough to keep track of where people are spending their virtual time. Yet, if you’re looking to market to a specific audience – particularly one on the younger side – it definitely pays to do so. 

Old favorites, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram, may still be on top and should certainly be included in your marketing strategy. However, keeping abreast of newly emerging platforms keeps you ahead of the curve and, more importantly, your competitors.

With that in mind, these are the apps to be aware of as we head into the new year: 

TikTok 

Not a new app, but a good one to keep an eye on, TikTok was born in 2016 and first focused on creating a space for people to sing along to their favorite songs. During the pandemic, its popularity exploded, becoming the most downloaded app of both 2020 and 2021. 

As the app’s functionality increased, enabling users to create shareable 15-second to 10-minute videos, brands started taking notice. They began using the platform to curate content to develop their own brand persona and interact with their target audience. 

One huge benefit of the app is that content frequently goes viral across social media platforms. Plus, added extras like TikTok Shopping, which allows in-app purchases, have been specifically designed with businesses in mind. In fact, with its vast ad reach and constantly evolving demographic, TikTok is very much a marketer’s dream. 

Discord

Discord, the free voice, video, and text app, was initially popular only with gamers. That’s why despite being around since 2015, in its early years, it didn’t enjoy the growth of other social media platforms. However, in more recent times, it has really taken off, with now over 150 million monthly users.

This is likely partly due to the app’s user-friendly interface. It allows users to link multiple devices, creating the perfect space for bringing together inclusive communities of similar-minded individuals. 

Brands particularly love this app because it enables them to foster their own community of interested parties, potential purchasers, and loyal customers. With no limit to the number of people who can join, the app offers them a dedicated audience to engage with their content. 

BeReal 

Created in France in 2019, BeReal is primarily used for sharing in-the-moment photos and experiences. Users receive daily alerts at random times to take two photos (one with their phone’s front camera and one with the back one), with just two minutes to do so. 

The popularity of such a feature among social media fans is evident as other, larger platforms are jumping on the instant-sharing bandwagon. TikTok’s Now is a standalone app based on the same creative concept of living right there in the moment. 

The app’s right-here-right-now feel makes it a perfect platform for companies to give potential customers an unedited, no-holds-barred behind-the-scenes look at their operations. This kind of authentic content is great for connecting with audiences and building trust in their brand.

Supernova 

Supernova, which launched only in December of 2021, is one of the newer apps on the block. Designed as an ethical alternative to social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, part of its charm is that it gives 60% of its advertising income to user-chosen charities. 

How this works is, app users get to select charitable causes to support – everything from mental health to climate change and reform. Then, whenever one of these posts receives a ‘like,’ money is donated on their behalf to their designated charity. 

The platform’s philosophies include creating a kinder, more inclusive community (via human moderation) and changing the world together for good. So, if giving back is a vital part of your brand image, then this may well be the best of the bunch for your business. 

Clubhouse 

The social audio hangout app Clubhouse is also creating a bit of a social media stir. Unlike traditional platforms set up primarily for content and information sharing, Clubhouse is based on the concept of leveraging audio-only connectivity between its various members using a house-like design where users can ‘hop from room to room.’

The Clubhouse hype initially derived from the fact that it was invitation only – quite the contrast to most other social media platforms that are built to attract anyone and everyone. However, the broad range of conversation topics and ‘unlikely collisions of people’ are truly what keeps users coming back for more. 

This an excellent place for connecting with a targeted audience of people interested in specific niches. It’s also the perfect spot for picking up marketing insider insights and info on current trends. Other social media sites have flocked to include similar features. Yet to many, this is still the original and best of its kind. 

Shuffles By Pinterest

The most recent of the lot, Pinterest, released the mobile-only app Shuffles by Pinterest in July 2022. It’s currently only available on IOS and is invitation-only, but it holds a lot of potential for future brand marketing, collaboration with influencers, and more. 

Shuffles lets users create, cut out, and animate personalized collages and mood boards. These can then be showcased across other platforms, like TikTok #shufflesbypinterest, meaning the marketing reach extends far beyond the platform’s as yet limited usership.

Probably the most exciting part of the app is that every aspect of the Shuffles collages and mood boards can be made interactive and even clickable. Businesses can express themselves and then add a link pin to their creation to easily move users to a Pinterest account or even to an external website or online store.

Elevate Your Social Strategy With The Right Partner

While social media offers a whole new world of marketing opportunities, it can often be challenging to break into and keep up with. If you are seeking support with managing your online presence, selecting the right platform, or developing a strong and memorable brand persona to help your offerings stand out, our social media management team can help. 

Get in touch today for a free audit and find out what we can do for your business.