The best social networks for B2B in 2023

Just as in our personal lives, social networks have become powerful platforms for businesses to connect, engage, and build relationships with their target audience. While many networks focus on personal interactions, several platforms are specifically designed to facilitate business-to-business (B2B) networking and marketing.

With many new social networks emerging recently, including Meta’s twitter-killer, Threads, which are the best for B2B brands to invest their time and effort in? Here’s 8 we think are essential for businesses in 2023:
 
1. LinkedIn: The biggest B2B social network
LinkedIn stands out as the premier social network for B2B professionals. With over 740 million users worldwide, it provides a professional environment for networking, industry-specific groups, content sharing, and lead generation. Its advanced search features allow businesses to target specific industries, job titles, and companies, making it an invaluable resource for B2B marketing. Features like Sales Navigator are useful for lead generation but come at an additional cost.
 
2. Twitter: Real-time engagement
Twitter offers a unique opportunity for B2B businesses to engage in real-time conversations and connect with industry influencers. Its fast-paced nature allows companies to share industry news, insights, and updates, fostering thought leadership and establishing brand credibility. Twitter's hashtag functionality enables businesses to join relevant conversations and expand their network within specific niches. Following Elon Musk’s takeover, Twitter has seen its traffic drop and advertisers leave the platform over concerns around brand safety.
 
3. Threads: Meta’s answer to Twitter
Launched in July 2023 as a rival to Twitter, Threads made an explosive start due to the Twitter exodus and the fact that it was bolted on to Instagram, making the sign-up process very simple. It’s too soon to see if it will find its place in the B2B marketeer’s toolkit, but it’s certainly too big to ignore with 30 million users signing up on the first day!
 
4. YouTube: Visual content marketing
As the world's largest video-sharing platform, YouTube presents a compelling opportunity for B2B businesses to showcase their expertise and products through visual content marketing. Companies can create informative and engaging videos such as tutorials, product demonstrations, and thought leadership discussions to reach a vast audience and establish credibility within their industry.
 
5. SlideShare: Professional presentations
SlideShare, acquired by LinkedIn, focuses on professional presentations and knowledge sharing. B2B businesses can leverage this platform to share informative slideshows, whitepapers, and case studies, positioning themselves as thought leaders in their respective fields. SlideShare's integration with LinkedIn amplifies the reach and visibility of shared content.
 
6. Facebook: Expanding B2B reach
While primarily known for personal interactions, Facebook offers valuable tools and features for B2B businesses. With its vast user base, Facebook allows companies to expand their reach, target specific B2B demographics, and engage with potential clients through content marketing, advertising, and lead generation campaigns. Facebook Groups provide a space for industry-specific discussions and networking opportunities.
 
7. Instagram: Visual storytelling and branding
Instagram's visually-oriented platform enables B2B businesses to tell their brand story and showcase their products or services creatively. With the right visual content strategy, companies can build brand awareness, engage their audience, and humanise their brand.
 
8. Pinterest: Showcasing products and services
While often associated with lifestyle and consumer-focused content, Pinterest can be a powerful platform for B2B businesses as well. Companies can leverage Pinterest to showcase their products, services, and industry-related content through visually appealing pins. With optimised descriptions and strategic keyword usage, businesses can attract potential clients and drive traffic to their websites.
 
There’s no one size, fits all solution to social media. Which of these channels you should focus on will be determined by the nature of your business. However, maximising you online visibility and engaging with your target audience is key to driving new leads.