One of the most important questions to answer when starting to post on social media is to pick which social media platform to post on. With a wide range of social media platforms to choose from, it can sometimes be difficult to pick which one to get started with. Understanding which social media platform is the most popular can help you decide which to get started with.
1. WhatsApp
WhatsApp remains to be the most widely used social media in Malaysia with a monthly usage rate of 90.7% of the Malaysian population. This is mainly driven due WhatsApp being the most prevalent form of communication amongst Malaysians and is an essential tool for Malaysians to stay connected to one another.
However, although WhatsApp is the most popular social media platform in Malaysia, it doesn’t operate the same way that other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. It doesn’t allow you to get organic traffic and is often only used at the bottom of most funnels.
2. Facebook
Facebook trails behind slightly with 84.9% of Malaysia’s using the platform each month. It remains to be the most popular social media platform that can drive organic traffic to your brand, unlike WhatsApp. Facebook maintains its relevance due to its versatile features, including news feeds, groups, and marketplace functionalities. Brands that are able to leverage these tools can leverage them in order to drive more traffic to their businesses and garner more sales.
On top of that, Facebook has a very well built ad system and network, reaching a whopping 66.5% of the entire Malaysian population regardless of age. This makes Facebook the ideal place for paid or sponsord content to drive more leads or sales to your businesses. This is why most businesses turn to Facebook Ads first when looking into paid advertising on social media in Malaysia.
3. Instagram
Instagram comes in third and is used by 77% of Malaysians. It is especially popular among younger demographics who use its photo and video-sharing capabilities. It favours more aesthetic and trendy content that is faster-paced as compared to Facebook ot TikTok.
Instagram also provides a strong balance of both the older and younger audiences, allowing businesses who are on the platform to reach a wider demographic of audiences.
Because Instagram and Facebook are owned by the same company, automatically linking your pages and crossposting your content to Facebook or Instagram has never been easier. This allows you as a business, ease of mind and convenience as you only have to post content from one platform and can manage all your Facebook and Instagram accounts from one place.
4. TikTok
TikTok has grown massively in Malaysia since its launch and is currently being used by 68.8% of Malaysians. TikTok is especially popular for its short-form video content, which keeps users engaged for extended periods. Although this platform only ranks 4th in popularity, an average TikTok user in Malaysia spends 38 hours and 49 minutes per month on TikTok, making it the most time consuming social media platform in Malaysia.
However, looking at the popularity of each platform alone is not enough, businesses need to understand the nuances of each social media platform and its dynamics. If you are a business trying to build their brand on social media, you shouldn’t pick just 1 platform. You can always try and see what works, where your audiences are and where you can sell your product.
Conclusion
However, looking at the popularity of each platform alone is not enough, businesses need to understand the nuances of each social media platform and its dynamics. If you are a business trying to build their brand on social media, you shouldn’t pick just 1 platform. You can always try and see what works, where your audiences are and where you can sell your product.
When you’ve found your platform, only then can you start tailoring content to suit the unique features and user preferences of each platform which will further enhance engagement and drive better results. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to share the same content across various platforms anyway.
Not sure where to start? Contact us now for a free consultation call, no obligations, to see how we can help to get your brand seen on social media.
*All data provided in this article has been extracted from the Malaysia 2024 Report by datareportal and updated as of July 2024.