Social media marketing uses social media platforms to build brand awareness, connect with customers, and drive users to a website or landing page. These platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Quora, TikTok, and Snapchat. Depending on the platform, content can include text, images, an infographic, a video, a poll, a link, or a podcast. A brand's target audience will gravitate toward some platforms more than others. For example, most Snapchat users are 15- to 25-years old, while Facebook Users span a much wider age range. Also, some products and services lend themselves to specific platforms. For example, Art, jewelry, and clothing work well on Instagram and Pinterest. Other platforms like YouTube can add a face, voice, and personality to a brand. Social media marketing includes several platforms, content styles, and strategies.

The best social media platform for you depends on your target audience. It takes time and consistency to achieve results with social media marketing. So, many companies focus their efforts on a few key social platforms rather than spread their efforts too thin. The most important thing to consider when choosing a platform is who you want to reach because different platforms attract different customer groups. Facebook is the largest social media network, with over 1.25 billion users worldwide. Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest tend to have more female users, while YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit tend toward more male users. Researchers find more users under 25 years old on Tumblr while Reddit's most massive audience is over 45 years old.

It is possible to learn social media marketing in as little as three months, though six months is more common with full-time effort. Social media marketing uses several platforms, each with specific content requirements and success strategies. So, to create and implement an effective social media marketing campaign may require more research. A professional marketer will have to learn how to promote a brand, attract an audience, provide value, and implement targeted advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.