Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms on the market today. It was started in 2004 as The Facebook, and was limited only to Harvard University students. In 2006, it was open to any user with a valid email address and who was over the age of 13. It has certainly grown in leaps and bounds since then, but this platform is not for everyone. There are some alternatives that have been developed over the years, with some rivalling Facebook in popularity.Â
When you are working on a social media marketing strategy you will likely consider Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn as your only options. And, while these are the most popular platforms, you may be missing out on a new, wider audience by not looking into alternative social media platforms. Not convinced? Below we take a look at some interesting alternatives to Facebook.Â
Ello
Ello was created in 2014 and caused quite a stir in some countries, as it was released at the same time when Facebook implemented a rule that all users had to use their legal name on the platform. It is a platform which does not show ads to users and does not sell people’s information to other parties, setting it aside from Facebook completely.Â
Ello is currently extremely popular among artists and other creatives, but does have the space to accommodate other users. If you would like to showcase and share your visual content with people who will appreciate it, Ello is the ideal choice. For graphic-focused brands and retailers, this platform will allow you to reach truly interested consumers.Â
Mastodon
Mastodon is a popular alternative to both Facebook and Twitter. This platform allows users to share news, images, and other content with focused groups. When you sign up for Mastodon, you join interest-based servers in order to follow and communicate with others. This makes it ideal for very niche businesses and social media marketing tactics.Â
There is a 500-character limit on the content that you share, but this is limited to the captions of articles or blogs you might be sharing. It is important to note, especially in 2020 when consumers are wary of advertising, that the users of Mastodon do not enjoy overly promotional content or content that has obviously been written for selling purposes.Â
Diaspora
Diaspora is an interesting social media option because it is decentralised. What this means is that it is not owned by one person or company, which also means it does not have any advertising or corporate interference. No data is collected, which might seem counterintuitive to social media marketing, but this platform can be used in conjunction with Facebook in order to have consumer data.Â
Users are in control of their own data, which makes it highly popular among those who might have become slightly disillusioned with Facebook and its data-gathering practices. On Diaspora, you are able to use hashtags, mentions, and other popular features to help your content gain visibility. You are also able to use any identity you prefer on Diaspora.Â
Vero
Vero is a selective-sharing social media platform. It has a stunning visual interface, making it popular with some of the younger users on the internet, and focuses on three main types of connections for sharing content. You can broadcast promotional content to acquaintances and share more niche content with friends.Â
Vero is being used by major brands such as GQ, meaning that it is also effective as a marketing platform. You can also share more than just written content, as Vero allows you to share video content, films, links, music, and even books. It does collect some data, but this data is focused on how often the app is used rather than the demographics of the people who are using it.Â
Get Socialising
While Facebook will most likely remain the top social media platform for years to come, there are some platforms emerging that aim to shake up the scene and provide users with what they really want. For social media marketers, these platforms might be tricky to use as they do not gather data, but when used in conjunction with Facebook, you might see your audience grow to impressive numbers.Â
For brands that are looking to disrupt their industry and interact with their audience on a different and more personalised level, using an alternative network to Facebook can help your efforts. If you would like to invest in social media management for your brand or business, contact NetMechanic today to find out how we can help you.
