WHAT IS A SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHEN DO YOU NEED IT?

WHAT IS A SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHEN DO YOU NEED IT?

Before proceeding to social media network development, let’s consider what social media network stands for, the differences between social media websites and similar application, and when a business needs a website.

Social media website refers to a community where a group of people can interact via chats or online calls create and share textual or video content, purchase products/Services, comment on other users’ posts, make their network of contact, and many more. It’s also a great marketing tool allowing for clients and segmentation and targeting for creating powerful marketing strategies and brand planning.

Planning to make your own social media network, it’s vital to define the networking service you want to create. It’s not limited to Facebook or Instagram. Commonly, there are divided into several groups according to the concept and features provided. Let’s consider the most popular in each group.

Social networks this is the most well-known social media website. It implies a friendly format of interaction and allowing users to establish different connections with people. Facebook is the most striking representative of this type that managed to convert from a simple idea to a billion-dollar platform that joins other users and brands.

Entertaining websites this type is similar to one described above. The difference is that these resources connect users according to their interest and hobbies. People adore such communities because they allow them to reach like-minded people and share their thoughts and idea with them. There are numerous examples of such hobby networks like MeetUp, Vingle, Patook, etc.

Educational platforms Educational platforms also join people based on their interest, but the main linking is gaining knowledge. These resources are allowed for student-teacher interaction providing access to outstanding research opportunities, and delivering other social network features. Academia is the most prominent example of this type enabling users to share interest articles and research outcomes as well as their opinions on different subjects.

Scientific communities’ students and trainers aren’t the only ones requiring special resources for communication. Scientific platforms enable researchers to share their experience and expertise. ResearchGate is the best example of creating a social media website of this type.

Corporate websites corporate websites are powerful tool to enhance the company’s sales performance. Hence, business owners aiming to reach commercial success are ready to build social media website of this type. Besides, it’s an excellent way of merging employees and raise loyalty to the brands.

Professional platforms professional websites are designed to ease the communications between specialists from different industries. LinkedIn is a leading player in this industry. The platform enables professionals to discuss business matters, share their experiences, schedule a meeting, seek and offer the job, and more.

Dating resources Dating platforms are experiencing an unprecedented rise in popularity. There are made to help people find their partners, and, as an owner, can make money on it. It’s an excellent win-to-win strategy. Tinder offers the best example of creating social media website of this type.

Information websites let’s explain with an example. That you want to design a social network and you don’t know where to start. You search for the information but can’t find the appropriate one. This is when information websites can come to rescue. Users can ask questions and receive expert advice on similar issues. And vice versa. They can ask questions of other participants. Quora and Reddit give an idea on how to create social media websites.

All these platforms have both responsive websites and mobile application. But what is the difference? Let’s take Facebook as an example.

Content display. Facebook applies a three-column layout in a web browser that shows the primary information in the center, with navigation and advertisements in sidebars on both sides of the window. The Mobile version doesn't have as much space to deal with, so it shows only the main content, taking up the entire mobile screen. This gives an optimized page view for users who only want to check status updates but overlook a lot of content available on the web.

Speed. The Facebook application runs faster and is more responsive to customers' taps. Moreover, it offers ancillary apps that link to specific services, such as the Messenger application, which makes instant and longer messaging possible. For example, users redirect to a separate web page for messaging called Messenger.com in the web version.

Advertisement. Advertisements are shown in the sidebar, but are eliminated from the mobile interface. However, the platform enables advertisers to buy premium status updates delivered to both mobile and web users. These upgrades come as part of the primary content.

Effectiveness. The majority of users have difficulty absorbing an incredible amount of information. In this case, the Facebook app is the right choice due to faster loading and limited extraneous content. Advertisers planning to reach customers need to consider whether they need to obtain a mobile experience, as that will define the type of presence they buy on Facebook. 

When Do Businesses Need a Website?

Businesses of all sizes can make good use of a website. When the core goal is to present first-class content to establish a broad online presence, a responsive website is a budget-friendly and quicker option. Let’s consider in what cases it’s better to make a social networking website.

Do you want it to be SEO-optimized?

 About 87% of customers use the Internet to search for products or services they need before making a decision. Website is an easier way to attract more leads and convert them into clients. The users enter specific queries to Google and see your platform in search results. It leads to broader reach capability and increased traffic to your website.

What budget do you have?

Social media platforms are easy to develop and maintain, and they’ll cost you less than, for example, creating a cross-platform mobile app. Moreover, Flutter app development requires separate specialists with relevant expertise. In turn, responsive websites have a single codebase that works on all devices across different browsers.

How often do you need to update your data?

Think well about how often you need to upgrade your content. It’s especially important when creating information or corporate social networks. If you need to constantly update your business platform's information, designing a website is the right investment. The renewed version of the website is accessible to users once it’s loaded to the server. In contrast, in mobile apps, every upgrade must be verified by App stores before being pushed to users. It takes, on average, 2 days for Apple’s Store and two hours for Google Play.