Social media is a powerful tool for networking and connecting people from around the world. Understanding the habits of social media users and who uses social media and for what purpose, can help you develop strategies to optimize your reach and engagement on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more.
Also Read: Social Listening 101: A Beginner’s Guide
Table of Contents
How to Unlock the Habits of Social Media Users?
#1: Identify the demographics of your target user base.
Knowing who your target users are, will help you identify their main concerns and interests. Take into account factors like age, gender, location and any other demographic information that you can use to develop content tailored to them.
Consider audience segments based on occupation, educational qualifications, marital status or religious beliefs. The more detailed your understanding of the user base is, the better placed you are to successfully connect with them.
#2: Understand popular times to reach target customers.
To get the best reach and engagement with your social media content, you need to understand when your target audience is most active on the platform. Popular times of day/week to post can differ significantly depending on your industry, location and audience profile.
Where possible, utilize analytics tools to gain insight into the activity of followers or use insights from competitor profiles. With this information at hand, plan out a content calendar based on the best times to publish.
#3: Learn the best practices for content creation on social channels.
Creating content for social media isn’t just about posting engaging messages that your audience can interact with – you should also be aware of the best practices when creating content. Pay close attention to the size and format of images, how many hashtags to use, and which type of posts tend to perform better than others.
If you keep abreast of trends and stay creative with your ideas, users will be more likely to engage with your brand by liking, commenting and reposting it.
#4: Identify and address user complaints promptly.
Responding quickly and thoughtfully to users who are unhappy with your brand is an important part of successful social media management. Your response should recognize the problem, and offer a solution.
Show that you understand why the customer is frustrated and that you take their comments seriously – this will create loyal customers who respect your company’s commitment to meeting customer needs.
Delaying a response or ignoring criticisms can harm your reputation significantly, so it’s important to be proactive in handling complaints.
#5: Utilize platforms such as polls, surveys or questionnaires to gain feedback from users.
Creating surveys or incentivized polls is a great way to engage and gain insight from social media users. Market research can be conducted with surveys, which can give you valuable feedback on both past and present strategies. You can use previously noted user feedback to craft targeted campaigns that will cater to the interests of your specific audience. This is an effective way for your brand to tap into the needs of its customer base, helping you figure out how people feel about certain issues and initiatives.
Types of Social Media Users
1. The Professional Networker
The professional networker is the type of social media user who actively pursues contact networks to gain business connections and find employment. They use LinkedIn and similar platforms to connect with professionals in their industry and expand their pool of contacts for potential opportunities.
2. The Selfie Obsessive
The selfie obsessive is someone who prioritizes taking and sharing selfies above all other forms of content on social media. Most selfies are taken to boost self-esteem or draw attention, but the focus ultimately remains on their image more so than anything else.
3. The Influencer
This type of user isn’t content with merely posting flashy photos; they want to get noticed and make a name (and often a living!) by influencing others by promoting products, services, or campaigns via their social channels. You’ll usually see influencers reposting content from brands that sponsor them as well as creating original visuals or pieces of writing for promotion purposes.
4. The Pot-Stirrer
This form of user thrives off disagreements, debates anger others with controversial posts intended solely for provocation or disruption, and stirs up arguments just for the sake of it – regardless of accuracy or truthfulness! Generally engaging in overly negative subject matters solely for enjoyment or attention seeking Purposes has consequences both online and offline.
5. Public Figure & Celebrity Follower
These users likely have multiple accounts – one that they use personally, and another dedicated exclusively to citing news stories, tagging public figures they admire to draw attention to their comment, retweeting praise on said celebrity pages & featuring movie/concert clips etc. They are most notable public figures such as singers/actors etc.
6. The Passive browser
The passive browser is a particularly common type of social media user who spends much if not most time perusing what other users post without leaving many comments or engaging in conversations themselves whatsoever…!
Such individuals may even be addicted to scrolling through feeds all day long without ever contributing anything substantial themselves – at least at first glance anyway; sometimes these types can be quite defensively opinionated when pressed upon in conversations which require strong stances or probing answers etc.
7. Politically savvy User
Seen discussing trending topics across pretty much any topic you could think of from climate change debates to foreign policy, and data privacy – you get the picture. These users will challenge themselves (&others) about current events & world issues encouraging intellectual debate rather than simply reaffirming existing stances & regurgitating preexisting knowledge/ideology that lacks creativity & progressiveness
How to Respond to social media users?
When a customer reaches out to you on social media—whether it’s via direct message, a comment on a post, or any other type of interaction—a reply is usually needed. Sometimes, however, a reply isn’t the best course of action. In this reading, you will learn when to reply and what kind of reply is best.
Why should you respond?
Generally speaking, replying to social media comments, messages, mentions, and tags is a great way to get customers to engage. When you reply to users, you make them feel heard. You also appear accessible to people who read the replies. This indicates that your brand cares about the customer experience. Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or another platform, engaging with your customer base is usually a good idea.
How should you respond?
- If you are responding to positive feedback, acknowledge the comment, thank them for the kind words, and consider reposting or Retweeting their feedback. It says a lot about your brand when people provide positive feedback about it on social media, so it’s a good strategy to ensure as many people as possible see that feedback.
- If you are responding to questions or general feedback, reply briefly and with clear enthusiasm. Engaging with customers should be fun and informative for both parties, and your customers should be able to tell you’re having fun based on the type of responses you give. Don’t be afraid to use creative language and exclamation marks, if it aligns with your brand voice.
- If you are responding to negative comments, such as when you have to resolve an issue for users, it’s best to remain calm and use helpful, polite, and approachable language. If there is a clear issue that has the potential to become something larger, you may have to offer refunds or promotional codes to make things right.
In these situations, encourage them to send you a direct message so the issue can be resolved quickly and privately. However, if the response could be helpful to other people who may have the same concerns or thoughts as the original poster, you may choose to answer it publicly so everyone can benefit from the interaction.
- If you are responding to internet trolls, the short answer is: don’t. An internet troll is a person who intentionally antagonizes others online by posting inflammatory, unnecessary, or offensive comments or other disruptive content that shouldn’t necessarily be replied to.
This is typically the only time you’re encouraged not to reply to users on social media. Unfortunately, trolling is a reality of social media, and a common one at that. The more your brand grows, the more trolls you will get. If you know your brand didn’t do anything wrong, simply don’t reply. If the trolling gets worse, consider deleting the comments or hiding the replies.
Social Media Users FAQs
Statistics for social media use/ Statistics for social media users/ Social media user’s statistics 2021
Social media has become an indispensable tool that billions of people around the world use to stay connected. As a result, it has opened up vast opportunities for marketers to reach out to potential customers, and understanding the habits of social media users can make a big difference in optimizing marketing campaigns.
In this section, we’ll explore some key statistics about social media users.
#1: Number of Global Social Media Users
According to the latest figures, over 3.8 billion people are using social media around the world – that’s nearly half of the world’s population.
In 2021 alone, the number of social media users has grown by 10 per cent compared to 2020, with an average user spending more than 2 hours per day on social networking sites. Moreover, the growth of social media users is predicted to keep increasing in the future as well.
#2: Most Commonly Used Social Networks
According to an analysis by Statista, the most popular social networks worldwide are YouTube and Facebook, with 2.76 billion users each, followed by WhatsApp and Messenger (both owned by Facebook) with 2 billion users each.
Other top platforms globally include Instagram and Tik Tok, both of which are gaining more active users every day. With such a high concentration of social media users on different platforms, marketers can easily find potential customers on any one of them.
#3: Average Time Spent on Social Networking Sites
The amount of time people spend on social media varies across different platforms and by demographic. Statista reports that the average time US adults spend on social networking sites is 2 hours and 15 minutes per day. That’s an increase of 22 minutes since 2017, showing just how vital it is for marketers to stay up to date with the latest trends in social media use.
#4: Global Demographics of Social Media Users
Social media is accessible to anyone with an internet connection, giving marketers a huge global reach. As of January 2020, there were 3.8 billion active social media users across the world and that number is projected to grow to 4.41 billion by 2025. Furthermore, Statista’s Digital Market Outlook shows that as of 2018, 68 per cent of internet users between 16 and 64 years old used social networks regularly worldwide.
Users social media/ Social media users age/ Users of social media/ Social media users by age/ Of social media users/ Age of social media users/ Demographics of social media users/ Social media user’s demographics
Social media use is on the rise, and understanding the age-based demographics of these users helps marketers and businesses better target their campaigns.
In this faq, we’ll explore data related to social media usage by age group, providing an in-depth look at the ages of today’s users.
#1: Analyze Trends in Age Distribution
By studying the age-based trend data on today’s social media users, it’s possible to understand the main demographics and how they might be evolving. Analyzing the age distribution of users can provide valuable insights into how different demographics use different platforms.
As these trends evolve, marketers can use them to develop more effective campaigns and strategies that focus on delivering value in a way that resonates with different audiences.
#2: Compare the Use of Social Networking Sites Among Different Ages
While traditional platforms like Facebook and Twitter have maintained their market stronghold, there are also social networking sites that cater to specific age groups or demographics. For example, millennials are more likely to use Instagram compared to other age groups.
Similarly, older generations might prefer Facebook due to its less complicated user interface. By understanding the differences in how each age group uses different platforms, marketers can craft more effective messages that reach the right people.
#3: Explore Who Uses Social Media the Most
In terms of age group, the majority of social media users are between 18 and 34 years old. According to 2019 data from Statista, this age demographic makes up around 51% of all active users on the most popular social networks.
This proportion steadily declines for older age groups with only 16% of people aged 55 or above being active users on social media sites. Understanding who is using each platform can help you shape your online communication strategy for maximum engagement.
#4: Discover the Impact of Age on Activity Level
In terms of activity level, younger users tend to have the highest engagement rate across all age groups. For example, Gen Z and Millennial users are more likely to use social media multiple times a day than any other demographic.
This important trend should be taken into consideration when devising campaigns or appeals aimed at different age groups. Moreover, as our preferences and online behavior change with time, it is important to regularly review the demographic data of each platform’s users.
#5: Monitor User Growth Based on Age Group
It is important to monitor user growth based on the age group to truly capture the full scope of the particular platform’s users. By doing this, we can gain valuable insight into any potential shifts in social media user behavior and preferences from one year to another.
Additionally, it is helpful to take note of which age groups are leaving a particular platform as well as gaining members – both trends hold valuable implications for marketers who use these platforms for their campaigns.
Social media users by platform
Please refer to this comprehensive guide to learn about this, here: List of social platforms with at least 100 million active users
Social media username checker/ Social media username check/ Social media username/ Social media username search
Here’s your link to check social media handle names: Social Media Name Checker
Social media use for business
Social media is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. Not only can it help to spread awareness and increase engagement, but it also differentiates your brand from the competition and contributes to long-term success.
Here are 5 reasons why you should be leveraging social media for your business:
#1: Reach more customers.
Social media can help you quickly and easily reach a wide range of customers from all over the world. You can expand your online presence to target potential customers who may not have been aware of your brand or products before.
Plus, you can use it as a platform for communication and customer service, helping to ensure that customers have access to the help they need when they need it.
#2: Build relationships with your customers.
Social media is a great tool for building relationships with your customers. By regularly engaging with them on social media and responding to their queries, you can develop trust and loyalty.
This will help to ensure that they are more likely to purchase from you in the future and may even encourage them to recommend your products or services to their friends and family.
#3: Increase brand recognition and loyalty.
By regularly engaging with your customers on social media, you will not only be able to build relationships but also increase brand recognition and loyalty. Creating a consistent presence on social media platforms will remind people of your business, even when they are not actively looking for products or services in your industry.
This exposure can lead to increased sales as people may be more likely to purchase from you if they are familiar with your brand.
#4: Engage in dialogue with customers and gain valuable insights.
Dialogue with customers on social media is a great way to get real-time feedback and listen to what people are saying about your business.
People often use social media platforms to voice their opinion, so you can use this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and gain valuable insights into what people think of your product or service.
You will also be able to adjust your strategy according to customer feedback and make sure that you are providing the best experience possible.
#5: Provide great customer service and generate referrals through word-of-mouth marketing.
Social media use for business helps you give great customer service and generate more referrals through word-of-mouth. If a customer mentions a problem they’re having with your product, you can respond to them directly and ensure that the issue gets addressed.
Furthermore, when customers promote your brand on social media, their friends may be inspired to make purchases from you as well, leading to increased brand visibility and loyalty.
Which social media has the most users?
Facebook. For more details, refer to this guide here: Top 10 Most Popular Social Media Platforms in 2023
Conclusion
When it comes to interacting with users on social media, each reply requires careful thought and consideration. Whether the comments are positive, general feedback, or negative, you’ll want to be strategic about when, how, and where you reply.
Feel free to keep these tips in mind as you move forward on your digital marketing journey, and leverage the help of any team members who may have experience replying to users.