Types of social media: Pros and cons + examples

If you are about to start a business, chances are that you have noticed the potential that social media has for your business. 

You may be surprised to know that there are several types of social media platforms that you can use to increase your sales.

Each platform works with different algorithms, so they attract different types of users that you have to evaluate before creating each account for your business.

Want to know which one is right for you? Find out with us below:

The 7 types of social media most commonly used today

Let's take a closer look at the types of social media that exist at the moment:

1. Horizontal

We start with horizontal social media: they are characterized by the ease with which you can create communities around the topics of your preference. They are the most used nowadays and you are surely using them at the moment.

Facebook, Google and Twitter are just some of them. 

Among the advantages offered by horizontal social networks you will find that they are very open and have few restrictions besides racism, sexual content or language that incites violence. This is why so many brands and influencers have used them as a channel for their business.

Any disadvantages? You have to create a very good strategy to attract large numbers of followers.

2. Vertical

Vertical social networks are those that are aimed at a very specific audience, being the opposite of the horizontal ones.

They are characterized by specializing in a specific topic or activity. What examples are there today? Sites like Woomenalia, About me, Booklikes and more. 

Among the advantages of a vertical social network is that you can easily segment your target audience as long as it is of the same theme of the network. 

If it is a reading platform and you have a book review website, you will have found the ideal place.

Disadvantages? Being so specific, it has a smaller number of followers, something that is not entirely convenient when it comes to making your marketing strategy. You have to search for a long time until you find the type of social network that fits your interests.

3. Professionals

Experts in types of social networks categorize professional networks as a vertical network. Their subject matter is to connect professionals with others in order to find better job opportunities.

The perfect example is LinkedIn, a platform that has been of great help to both individuals and companies, which could be its main advantage: it expands your business network to an unimaginable level.

Among the disadvantages is that of publishing your professional and business aspirations, something that some people like to keep a secret.

4. Mixed verticals

These are part of the verticals, but they combine leisure and professional themes.

The clearest example is Unience, which has been growing steadily since 2020. 

Its advantage is that it offers many options for you to grow at work without neglecting the humor and fun that you need so much. Among the disadvantages is the difficulty for brands to connect with an audience that is not entirely defined. 

5. Leisure

We also have the leisure networks, which, as you will notice, are dedicated to fun topics. We are not only referring to parties, but to a variety of topics such as sports, music, cinema, literature or video games.

What is the most popular social network for leisure? There are several, but Wipley is the leader, because it gives you the possibility of creating communities based on a well-defined topic.

In fact, we would dare to say that this is its main advantage: bringing together a community based on a well-defined topic. You as a brand can take advantage of this if you find your ideal audience on these platforms. 

6. Social news

Social news, on the other hand, give you the possibility to write articles, share links from other sites and have your followers vote for them. In this way, the algorithm ranks who are the most voted and displays the messages in this order.

Therefore, it is the Internet users who decide what content they want to see on the network. The clearest examples at the moment are Reddit and Digg, sites that have allowed several people to make a name for themselves through their writings.

You as a company could use it to share the latest news about your brand, be it new product launches, news and much more.

You just need some creativity to take advantage of the types of social networks that exist today.

7. Microblogging

Finally we have the microblogging social networks that give you the possibility to write short posts of less than 200 characters. This promotes interaction and other users can share it on their own feeds.

Microblogging is very useful for literature lovers and brands that rely on texts as hooks to get new customers. This has made personal brands, media and some companies get good results.

It is more of a news network, so you have to manage it for that purpose to get engagement. This is its main strength and you can take advantage of it.

What is the ideal social network for you?

The truth is that there is no right answer to this question, as everything will depend on your expectations and characteristics as a brand or business.

There are companies that prefer Facebook because of the possibility of making paid ads. Besides, it is the most used in the world, but it does not mean that this is where your target audience is.

If you have a website and want to promote yourself, you can use Twitter to generate engagement through words, something you can take advantage of if you are a freelancer or self-employed.

Before choosing the right type of social media for you, you should study what you need and what your strengths are as a company and then make a social media marketing plan.

If you need more help remember that there's a lot of content on our blog about topics that could give you a hand at the moment. 

What do you think, what are the social networks you like the most for your business? Let us know in the comments.