Social media isn’t just for the kids in high school anymore. It is not only about keeping track of people you know, but is becoming a huge part of business. Create a nice profile for yourself and you can become more appealing to employers or potential clients. Connect and network with people in your industry, or just make a few friends. Either way, social media is a great way to stay engaged in an online community.
1. Facebook
Facebook is one of the best and easiest social media networks. You can create a profile with a photo and brief information about yourself. Follow friends and check in on how their doing by writing a short status on their wall or sending a message. Find an article or video you like and post it so anyone that follows you can watch and comment. If you have a business, you can create a page describing what you do and share it with people you know. When they like what they see, they will send it along to other people.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Easily share photos, videos or articles
- Write short messages to old friends
- Create a page for your business
Cons:
- Have to download another app to use Messenger
- Can be very difficult to add an administrator to a business page
- Updates almost every two weeks
2. Instagram
Instagram is just a platform for photo sharing. Unlike Facebook you don’t create a profile with information about yourself, but just write a short bio. Then you can upload and edit photos directly in the app. People can like and comment on them, and now there is even a direct messaging capability. For personal use, show your friends and family what you’re up to and photos of your cat. For a more professional audience, share photos of what you create and connect with people that do the same thing. Discover topics and people to different people to follow and find your next favorite photographer
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Edit photos directly in the app
- Comment and like other photos
- Privately message friends
Cons:
- Can’t add custom locations
- Sometimes photos don’t upload correctly
- Can be hard to reshare photos
3. Pinterest
Pinterest has the reputation of being a place for people to plan their weddings and find DIY crafts to do on the weekends, however it is becoming more than that. The app is laid out like a virtual cork board. Scroll through to find photos attached to articles that interest you and you can pin them to your own account. Create different boards based on certain interests, like quotes, projects and food. If you want to use it for business, you can create a board and start uploading your own photos. If you use the right tags, it can be found in a search and exposed to more people.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Post your own photos
- Make boards for different categories
- Connect to friends
Cons:
- Can be hard to navigate at first
- Can’t change order of boards
- Can’t move favorites to the top
4. Twitter
If you’re not on Twitter as a business-owner you are doing something wrong. It is a great way to connect with an audience and deliver news about what you’re doing. Like Instagram, you just write a short bio about yourself and add a photo, then you write short updates, only 140 characters. You can add links, photos and videos, but the writing must be kept short. This ensures that people looking through the feed can read what you have to say quickly. Make sure you like, replay and even retweet tweets from your followers so you can create a community. Search for topics in the search bar to find other people that like your interests.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Connect with people who share your interests
- Share tweets from other people
- Easily share photos and links
Cons:
- Have to update fairly regularly to get followers
- Can be difficult to deliver a message that short
- Sometimes links don’t upload correctly
5. Snapchat
Snapchat may have begun as a way to send naked photos that don’t stay around, but has turned into a fun way to connect with your friends. A photo or video only lasts 10 seconds and then is gone forever. You can write on them and draw them to make them more fun. From a business stand point, you can create an account and send short updates throughout the day of what you’re doing. Whether it is product photos, or just to show silly employee pictures, it is an easy way for a consumer to digest the information.
Download it here for Apple.
Download it here for Android.
Pros:
- Videos don’t last longer than 10 seconds
- Can add captions
- Send private messages to users
Cons:
- Has ads
- Need Wifi to use
- Can’t replay photos or videos
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Top 5 Best Free Social Media Apps for iPhone & Android