Social Media
Overview
Social media is content created using web applications structured as communities. Social media has mostly the same form as traditional media—it includes video, photography, writing, audio and other media—but has a heavy emphasis on sharing and content discussion.
Flickr, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are some of the most popular social media sites, but there are hundreds of other lesser-known sites.
Social media can be a powerful tool for marketers, and is a central part of the inbound marketing methodology. It can be particularly helpful for listening, building relationships and trust, and distributing content. As it has been recently established, more and more businesses are utilizing social media as an effective and inexpensive tool to reach potential buyers.
Uses for Marketers
Listening
You can use social media for listening to the conversations of your target audiences and potential customers. Listening can be achieved through various tools like Google and Yahoo! alerts, RSS feeds and keywords searches on Twitter, SlideShare and other websites. By following real-time discussions on the Web you can gain insight into emerging trends in your industry and become a proactive commentator.
Networking
One of the main uses of social media is for networking purposes. Just like with "real-world" connections, building relationships in the social mediasphere requires time and effort. By joining and actively participating in online communities like LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace, you have the power to build a positive reputation for your brand and develop valuable relationships with potential customers and industry gurus. In the end, social media is about keeping the communication channels open.
One of the main uses of social media is for networking purposes. Just like with "real-world" connections, building relationships in the social mediasphere requires time and effort. By joining and actively participating in online communities like LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace, you have the power to build a positive reputation for your brand and develop valuable relationships with potential customers and industry gurus. In the end, social media is about keeping the communication channels open.
Distribution
A successful marketing campaign requires businesses to maximize their content distribution across various social media tools like YouTube, SlideShare and Blogger. By uploading self-produced videos on YouTube, for example, you can reach a broad audience and attract leads to your website.
A successful marketing campaign requires businesses to maximize their content distribution across various social media tools like YouTube, SlideShare and Blogger. By uploading self-produced videos on YouTube, for example, you can reach a broad audience and attract leads to your website.
Sharing
Make sure you dive into the the colorful sharing culture that social media enables. Bookmarking and tracking content help companies follow latest stories and emerging trends in the online community.
Make sure you dive into the the colorful sharing culture that social media enables. Bookmarking and tracking content help companies follow latest stories and emerging trends in the online community.
Cautions
Abusing social media can be as far reaching as to destroy the company’s reputation. Over-promoting a brand may lead to blocking or deleting the marketer’s account from a social media website.
Abusing social media can be as far reaching as to destroy the company’s reputation. Over-promoting a brand may lead to blocking or deleting the marketer’s account from a social media website.
Popular Social Media Tools
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking tool that connects millions of people all over the world. It enables users to keep in touch with friends and share photos, links and videos with one another. On the most visited social media websites marketers can expand their social media presence and directly engage with customers.
Facebook is a social networking tool that connects millions of people all over the world. It enables users to keep in touch with friends and share photos, links and videos with one another. On the most visited social media websites marketers can expand their social media presence and directly engage with customers.
Twitter
Twitter is a real-time micro-blogging service available over multiple networks. Closely following user online behaviors, Twitter has been planned to develop into a revenue-generating company. Marketers like Zappos are already taking advantage of the opportunity to monitor their brands on Twitter.
Twitter is a real-time micro-blogging service available over multiple networks. Closely following user online behaviors, Twitter has been planned to develop into a revenue-generating company. Marketers like Zappos are already taking advantage of the opportunity to monitor their brands on Twitter.
YouTube
Purchased by Google for $1.65 billion, YouTube is the leader in online video. The website empowers users to become the “broadcasters of tomorrow” and upload self-produced videos. Users are enabled to watch YouTube videos over multiple platforms. Marketers use the website to promote their businesses through video marketing to a target audience.
Purchased by Google for $1.65 billion, YouTube is the leader in online video. The website empowers users to become the “broadcasters of tomorrow” and upload self-produced videos. Users are enabled to watch YouTube videos over multiple platforms. Marketers use the website to promote their businesses through video marketing to a target audience.
Flickr
Flickr is an online photo management and sharing service. It enables users to publish their own content via email, mobile devices and the Web. Flickr has introduced a collaborative format of organizing photos and video. On this application, registered users tag their uploaded content and receive feedback.
Flickr is an online photo management and sharing service. It enables users to publish their own content via email, mobile devices and the Web. Flickr has introduced a collaborative format of organizing photos and video. On this application, registered users tag their uploaded content and receive feedback.
SlideShare
SlideShare is an online community uploading and sharing PowerPoint presentations and Word documents. The website makes the presentation searchable thanks to user tagging. SlideShare presents an innovative way to find industry gurus, market events and generate leads for businesses.
SlideShare is an online community uploading and sharing PowerPoint presentations and Word documents. The website makes the presentation searchable thanks to user tagging. SlideShare presents an innovative way to find industry gurus, market events and generate leads for businesses.
MySpace
MySpace is an interactive social networking website that connects people globally. It supports multimedia applications and empowers users to artistically express themselves through profile customization. You create a MySpace profiles and reach your target audiences though blogging, bulletins and groups.
MySpace is an interactive social networking website that connects people globally. It supports multimedia applications and empowers users to artistically express themselves through profile customization. You create a MySpace profiles and reach your target audiences though blogging, bulletins and groups.
Yelp
Yelp is an online community of people and local businesses connected through reviews, events, special offers and direct talk. Users can browse the reviews by category such as shopping, restaurants, financial services and other. Businesses create free accounts that allow them to post offers, upload photos and message customers.
Yelp is an online community of people and local businesses connected through reviews, events, special offers and direct talk. Users can browse the reviews by category such as shopping, restaurants, financial services and other. Businesses create free accounts that allow them to post offers, upload photos and message customers.