4 social media platforms to check out in 2023

1. TikTok

Although TikTok has seen rapid growth in the last few years, it’s still an app in its infancy, and the possibilities for brands are endless.

TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short video clips. Users can also add filters, text, music and special effects to their videos. What I personally love about TikTok is its sub-communities and niche audiences, and that a lot of videos on the platform are more than just silly short-form clips. They connect together remixes of other videos from TikTok or YouTube, sometimes referring to sub-cultures of the internet, TV shows and songs (think about all those songs from the 70s and 80s that became popular again in the past two years thanks to TikTok).

The user base of TikTok has grown exponentially, making it a no-brainer for many brands. The platform’s popularity among influencer marketers is reportedly booming as well, with #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt and new features from TikTok Live and TikTok Shopping Ads.

Although the app has been around for several years, it remains one of the fastest-growing platforms on the internet today for both brands and creators.

2. BeReal

BeReal is one of the new social media platforms we are all watching. It’s for people who want to share in-the-moment photos and experiences.

Created in France in 2019, it sends you daily notifications at random times, asking you to take two photos at once: one with your front camera and one with your back camera. You have two minutes to snap a photo of whatever you happen to be doing at that moment.

BeReal could be the perfect way to connect with other people around the world. What’s interesting is that TikTok recently launched a BeReal-inspired feature called TikTok Now. This tells us that there’s interest in such a feature across platforms. It’s the perfect time for brands to start leveraging BeReal.

Dedicate a team member each week to be the face of your brand on BeReal. This is a great way to snap behind-the-scenes content and show what the day-to-day of working for your brand is like. Upcoming work conference? Be ready to show your team in action.

Remember the days when everyone said TikTok was just for teens? Imagine the missed opportunities for many businesses if they had listened.

Since we don’t know when you’ll be asked to snap your photo on BeReal, planning ahead in terms of who will be logged in and represent your brand will be key.

3. Discord

Discord is a voice and text chat app originally popular with gamers that is now attracting tech brands and creators around the globe. It’s been around since 2015 and has grown rapidly in recent years. Discord has gained popularity among the gaming community because its easy-to-use interface allows you to link multiple devices together.

It features channels, such as WhatsApp groups or Slack teams. They’re great for organizing your community around topics including video games or cryptocurrency.

Discord is popular among blockchain enthusiasts because it’s an easy way for brands looking to get more involved with web3 to build their own communities on the blockchain (Telegram is another excellent platform).

If you want to create and manage your community (yes, ‘community,’ not ‘audience’), Discord is one of the best options.

4. Shuffles by Pinterest

In July 2022, Pinterest soft-launched a new app called Shuffles. It’s a mobile-only app (currently only on iOS and invite-only) that allows users to create collages collectively. A great opportunity for brands is that each element used in each collage links back to the creator and product on Pinterest.

This new social media platform has a lot of potential for influencer marketing partnerships with the Shuffles App.

Creators who use both the Shuffles app and Pinterest could collaborate with brands in all sorts of ways. For example, travel agencies could partner with travel influencers to create travel-themed collages to drive interest in specific destinations or travel products. Or influencers could create brand-specific shopping guides for various brands, linking back to each individual product. Essentially, every brand has an opportunity to create a Shuffle that highlights its products or services.

Always be willing to try new platforms, but remember that with the introduction of new platforms come new strategies that you can use to your advantage. Working with a reputable agency can help you stay on top of these changes.