7 Social Media Platforms for Engaging With Customers in Real-Time

Discover the cutting-edge strategies for engaging with customers in real-time on the most dynamic social media platforms. This article dives into the insights from industry experts to reveal how platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and others are transforming customer interaction. Learn how to leverage these tools to build stronger connections, foster community, and maintain a pulse on customer needs.

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LinkedIn Connects with Customers in Real-Time

LinkedIn has become my go-to platform for real-time customer engagement. It’s become my default for several reasons: 

• The platform’s focus on professional development connects me with my previous students (customers) and provides social proof right at the source.
  
• LinkedIn’s social graph effectively connects me with future customers who engage with my content and see verified results of past and current customers.
  
• Features like LinkedIn Events and thought leader posts with paid boosting options extend the reach of these interactions even further! 

LinkedIn’s unique value proposition has made it an invaluable tool for connecting with my audience, testing offers, and gathering feedback in real time.

Jeff Sauer, Co-Founder, MeasureU and ProfitSchool

TikTok Enables Instant Customer Interaction

TikTok has been a game-changer for connecting with customers in real time. It’s fast, engaging, and allows brands to interact directly with their audience through comments, likes, and live videos. I’ve seen how quickly brands can respond to questions or feedback, making it feel like a personal connection. With its short-form videos, you can share updates, promotions, or behind-the-scenes content in a matter of seconds, and get a response in the same time frame.

If you’re looking for instant customer engagement, TikTok is where it’s at. People interact with your content and you can react instantly. It’s all about being authentic and relatable. The platform makes it easy to build that rapport with your audience, creating a sense of community and trust.

Natalia Lavrenenko, UGC manager/Marketing manager, Rathly

Discord Builds Community and Loyalty

One platform I have used for real-time customer engagement is Discord.

Although initially designed for gamers, it has become a versatile tool for businesses and communities. Features like voice channels, live chat, and customizable servers allow brands to create spaces for direct and continuous interaction with their audience.

It fosters a sense of community that traditional platforms struggle to achieve. Users can join a server, participate in conversations, and receive instant responses from both brand representatives and other members. This creates a dynamic, interactive environment that strengthens loyalty and encourages open communication.

Another key feature is its flexibility with integrations. Brands can use custom bots to automate FAQs, host live events, or run polls, all within the same space. This ensures businesses can manage customer queries efficiently while keeping the engagement experience personalized and seamless.

Unlike mainstream platforms like Facebook or Twitter, Discord operates without algorithm restrictions, ensuring all messages reach the intended audience. Its niche appeal makes it useful for brands seeking deeper, more meaningful customer interactions in a dedicated, distraction-free environment.

Peter Bryla, Senior Community Manager, Resume-Now

Facebook Offers Real-Time Customer Engagement

The social media platform I recommend for engaging with customers in real-time is Facebook, and my reasons are simple.

Facebook is not only one of the most widely used social media platforms globally but also offers a variety of tools designed to make real-time interaction with customers easy. The platform’s messaging feature, Facebook Messenger, allows businesses to talk directly and instantly with their customers. This real-time communication is essential for building strong customer relationships, as it gives your customers the option to get answers, make inquiries, and resolve issues quickly. As someone with experience managing customer relationships, I can tell you that the speed of response plays a big role in customer satisfaction. When customers receive quick replies, they feel valued and heard.

Also, Messenger, Facebook’s Live Chat and comments section offer businesses the opportunity to engage with customers instantly during live events, product launches, or promotions. You can respond to comments, answer questions, and provide additional details while the conversation is still relevant. This kind of immediate feedback builds trust and boosts customer engagement.

Moreover, Facebook’s analytics tools allow businesses to monitor customer behavior in real-time. With this data, you can tweak your responses and strategies to better meet customer needs.

The best thing about Facebook, though, is its vast audience. With over 2.8 billion active users, it’s a platform where you can reach almost anyone, from young consumers to older demographics. This widespread reach, combined with real-time engagement tools, makes Facebook an incredibly powerful tool for customer service and relationship-building.

In my experience, using Facebook for real-time customer engagement has been invaluable in creating a positive customer experience and fostering brand loyalty.

Vishal Shah, Sr. Technical Consultant, WPWeb Infotech

X (Twitter) Provides Quick Customer Connections

I use X (formerly Twitter) the most to connect with customers in real-time. It’s quick, simple, and effective. Most of my audience is already active there, which makes engagement feel natural. Whether it’s answering questions, solving issues, or just having conversations, it’s the best platform for instant interaction. X (Twitter’s) fast pace keeps things moving, and the short format helps keep communication clear. If your crowd is there too, it’s definitely worth focusing on.

Lisa Sicard, Small Business Owner, Inspire To Thrive

Snapchat Creates Urgency and Engagement

I use Snapchat to connect with customers in real-time because of its ephemeral nature and interactive features. I can share time-sensitive content like flash sales, behind-the-scenes moments, and limited-time offers which creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity with my audience. This immediacy is key to building excitement and getting customers to take action quickly.

One of the best features is Snapchat Stories and Snaps; I can directly connect with my followers through real and personal updates. I often use the platform to run polls, ask questions, or encourage user-generated content, all of which create a two-way conversation. For instance, during a product launch, I used Snapchat to share teaser clips and engage with followers who were asked to share their reactions. The result? A huge surge in user interaction and buzz around the launch.

The real-time engagement goes further with Snap Maps, which is perfect for local promotions or events. I can target customers based on their location and create geotagged filters or AR experiences that make interactions fun and local. This increases engagement and brand affinity.

If you want to maximize real-time interactions, Snapchat makes it easy to be creative and meaningful. Try out custom AR filters, live stories, and targeted ads to build a dynamic relationship with your audience. It’s a platform that lives and breathes immediacy and authenticity—two things that resonate with today’s consumer.

Soubhik Chakrabarti, CEO, Icy Tales

Instagram Facilitates Easy Daily Updates

I think Instagram, with its various features, is the best social media platform for me. Easy daily updates with stories, engaging with questions, or swiping features are just the right things you need as a small business using social media as their main marketing tool.

Christina S., CEO, Founder, uncomfy cherry

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