Social networking is a massive part of the world we live in today. In 2018, it was estimated that around 2.65 billion people were using social networking sites. Investopedia defines social networking as – “Social networking is the use of internet-based social media sites, to stay connected with friends, family, colleagues, customers, or clients.” It is used widely by both businesses and in everyday personal life. The Cambridge Dictionary defines social networking as the “activity of sharing information and communicating with groups of people using the internet, especially through websites that are specially designed for this purpose.”

What are the most popular social networking sites?
Facebook is a large social networking site, both in terms of the number of users it has, but also in terms of site recognition. Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest are also among the most popular social networking sites. There are many different sites, all of which are slightly different. However, they all allow users to connect with others and create a unique online image. Most people and businesses will have a profile on many of the key and popular networking sites, as this enables them to maximise their visibility.
Why is social networking beneficial for my business?

Which social networking sites should I join for my business?

The best strategy is to try out a range of different social sites and discover which ones you feel most comfortable using. The more websites you can appear on, the better your social visibility will be. However, you need to ensure that you can maintain every profile you create and regularly generate new posts and content. Moreover, you need to ensure you remain active and connect with your audience across all your profiles. Therefore, it is essential to make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew. Start small, and as you grow, you can branch out in terms of the number of social networking sites you use.
However, some social networking sites work better for different types of businesses. This is due to their varying natures. For example, Instagram revolves around photographs. Therefore, if you run a company where you create aesthetically pleasing work or designs, this is a site you should sign up to. See our recommendations for different business types below:
Architects or Interior Designers:
- Houzz
- YouTube
Restaurants, Cafes, Pubs and Clubs
- YouTube
Professional services – Law firms, accounting firms, consulting firms
- Quora
- YouTube
Fashion, home, and e-commerce retailers
- YouTube
So take that step and start social networking for your business.