Remington Begg
Sometimes, as inbound marketers, we can get so involved in the strategy-side of social media that we forget to have fun with it. Social media is supposed to be personal, enjoyable, and a carefree way to pass the time. It’s supposed to connect you with friends, not stress you out! So with that in mind, and based on this list of the 100 Best iPhone Apps of all time, here are the top ten social media apps that our team loves to use at Impulse Creative:
10. FireChat
FireChat actually uses Bluetooth to allow its users to communicate with those nearby, even if they don’t have a Wi-Fi or data connection. It’s great for when you’re exploring the wide open spaces, but still want to stay connected with your friends. You can even send them pics of all the cool nature you are experiencing.
9. Medium
Medium isn’t as widely popular as some of the others on this list, but it is just as fun and informative. Medium is a central place for readers and thinkers alike to share long-form content on all sorts of topics. There’s also an element of engagement and interaction, so you can read in-depth, respond, and recommend on your social channels right from the blog you’re reading. A cool highlight feature also helps readers see points and ideas that are pretty popular within the posts!
8. Periscope
Periscope is still considered “up and coming”, but it’s making huge waves in the social media world, especially with young people. Owned by Twitter, it is essentially a live-streaming video service. It’s not the only one of its kind, but it is the one we prefer. It’s laid out nicely and is pretty intuitively designed. Look for big things out of Periscope in 2016!
7. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the favorite apps around here because it makes it so easy to do exactly what it was designed for- help you stay connected with your professional colleagues on the go. Let’s face it, you probably have some down time that you use to just play on your phone. But with LinkedIn, that downtime doesn’t have to be a waste. Instead of playing a game, read insightful industry information and continue networking with those who can help your career.
6. Blab
Blab takes the concept of Periscope and expands it. It is a livestreaming platform that enables a public video chat for up to four participants at a time. If you are familiar with Periscope and Google Hangouts, it basically combines them. The potential for this to be used in a small business’s marketing strategy is pretty apparent.
5. Timehop
The roots of social media is all about connecting and sharing, and Timehop takes modern social activity back to that. It pulls archives from your accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more to show you what happened on that same day in previous years. It has gained a ton of popularity thanks to hashtags like #TBT and #FBF. In fact, it was such a good idea that Facebook “borrowed” the idea and introduced its “On This Day” feature.
4. Pinterest
Pinterest is still one of the relatively niche social networks on the web, but it's a powerhouse in its own right. It is the way to share recipes, party decorating tips, vacation itineraries, and do-it-yourself projects. You can use it for marketing purposes if your industry aligns, or you can just enjoy pinning home decorating tips to your board. Either way, we love Pinterest!
3. Instagram
Duck face selfies and photos of people’s dinner may dominate Instagram, but that’s not all that the photo-sharing app is limited to. Savvy marketers are using the app to promote their products in unique and creatively photogenic ways. It can be helpful to your company, or it can just be a way to kill time and find out what Kim Kardashian is up to today- all with pretty photo filters.
2. Twitter
Twitter isn’t the original social media giant, but it is certainly giving Facebook a run for its money, especially with teens and Millennials. Twitter is perfect for staying completely up-to-date with events going on around the world, even before the major news outlets are reporting. And with the iPhone app, this connectivity with the rest of the world goes anywhere you do.
1. Facebook
No shock here, right? Facebook started it all and Facebook is number one! It’s difficult to imagine a world now without social media, and it’s even more difficult to imagine social media without Facebook. But the iPhone app is more than that. Facebook was one of the first apps to link directly with iOS — a huge upgrade that let other apps more easily log in with Facebook credentials, not to mention turbocharged sharing photos and videos directly from your phone.
Social media is a big part of inbound marketing, so don’t forget to get out there, get creative, and have fun! It’s easy to see how a lot of these could be beneficial to your brand. Use Periscope to show people what is going on at your office, or Timehop to share the anniversary of your first day open. If you’re not sure exactly how to get started, download our free eBook Mastering Social Media for Business for even more expert tips and advice.
