Ever heard of social media and wonder what it is all about? Well, it’s quite different from social networking although both are used for expanding contact connections over the Internet. Social media focuses more on publicizing one’s business, be it starting or already established. The purpose of this article is to provide a newbies introduction to social media.
Lies, Lies and More Lies
The world has become a very transparent place these days. The internet has spawned such a reaction that there is really no hope for corporations or governments to control the message being put out any longer. One needs only look at the Arab Spring to see how sites like Facebook can become influential places. With the message spreading, the role of social media in your internet marketing efforts should be obvious and something you really push. It is a means for connecting with those around you in a way never before imaginable.
LinkedIn
One of the best examples of social networking sites that has been proved very useful in growing a business network is LinkedIn where, according to Wikipedia.com, there is a population of 70 million users as of June 2010. A member can actually join 50 groups thus allowing him or her to connect with a huge number of people.
Facebook
Another example is Facebook, which is believed to be the most popular social media site with 800 million users all over the world. The hub of activity for so many people, it should be no surprise that people are joining up to get involved with it in a big way and businesses are following them to the platform.
Twitter
Twitter is another game entirely. Limited to just 140 characters a post, the system is really about developing short and quick bursts of information for people to take advantage of when looking to communicate. Some entertainers have more than a million followers, which means even their slightest of recommendations can set forth a huge buying spree.
YouTube
Although YouTube is basically used for entertaining purposes, the corporate world is also using it to publicize their companies by uploading videos that are constructive to their image. The number of viral campaigns that appear on the platform now are growing by the day. Also, popular posters are being hit up by companies to do plugs for their products although the FTC has stepped in and tried to stop this to some extent.
Should social media be a part of your newbie efforts? Absolutely. It is a good way to communicate with people, but also a factor in getting your site ranked on Google. Given this, it is vital that you have a presence and keep it active so people can follow you.
