Social media tools allow
individuals, communities ,companies and other organizations to create, share,
or exchange information and data, career interests, suggestions, ideas, and media(text, Images, videos
and audios) in other communities and networks. The
word “Social” implies a conversation. Social media is definitely not about
one-way communication to a large audience from big organisations.
The difference
between social media and the TV is that with the latter, viewers seldom engage
with the programme-makers of the show that they are watching. Only in very
recent times have programme makers expanded into the world of social media.
Social media is different to traditional forms of communication such as through
newspapers, television, and film.
Advantages of social media
1. Cheap
Anyone with access
to the internet (for example through public libraries) can interact with
different people, communities and whole world through social media. With the
passage of time popularity and usage of social media is increasing and keeping
this thing many service provide across the world are launching and giving different
offers which are cheap and accessible to everyone.
2. Accessible
The tools are easy
to use. Everyone can become familiar to gadgets and tools provided for using
social media.
3.
Enabling
It allows almost
anyone to do things that previously were only the preserve of well-resourced
organisations.
Increasing popularity and usage of social
media tools
- Gazillions of user accounts are registered e.g. Hotmail has 370M registered account, Facebook has 600M, and Twitter 200M.
- Flickr has 5 billion pictures, facebook had 50+ billion, as of july 2010.
- Twitter users generate 65M tweets a day
- Huge userbase
The Role of Profiles
Making profiles on social
media is now everywhere. Profiles link users to other members. People
share their personal goals and achievements. It helps to explains reliability
of identity.
Linkedin
Linkedin is a social networking service which allows
people to build their profile. Also:
•
Build network
•
Stay in touch with current and former peers
•
Create community, expand contact lists and
introduce connections
•
Showcasing skill set
•
publishing own resume or establishing expertise
for potential clients or employers to view
•
Join groups, gather relevant information,
participate in discussions, receive industry updates as they occur
•
Find targeted people with a specific skill sets
•
For hiring or informational/networking purposes
•
JOB SEARCH: Utilized to find jobs, people and
business opportunities recommended by someone in one's contact network
•
TALENT SEARCH: Employers can list jobs and
search for potential candidates
•
NETWORKING RESOUCE: Members can review circle profiles of to
determine which of their existing contacts can introduce them to people they
want to know
•
PERSONAL-PROFESSIONAL BRANDING: Users can post
their own photos and view photos of others to aid in identification
•
INDUSTRY UPDATE RESOURCE: Register to follow companies to get
notifications and relevant information
•
INFORMATION PORTAL: Users can bookmark
(profiles, jobs, etc.) to return to for
future reference
•
Strive for 100% completeness on profile and keep
updated (new skill sets, new company)
•
Continue to reach out, make connections, or
reply to conversations –this pops up on your connection’s activity feed
•
Post events or new products/information
•
Follow companies, join and create group
•
Helpful for industry info, adding contacts to
network and all groups have a job posting capability
•
Include a LinkedIn link on your signature
•
Ask for recommendations after completing
business
•
Integrate business tweets
•
Optimize your profile
•
Focus on developing a quality network
You Tube
Youtube is a videos
sharing website, allows user to share any kind of video with everyone. It
allows:
- — Showcase products
- — Launch new marketing campaigns for companies, act as a commercial for company
- — Demos for new products and services
- — Build personal-professional brand
Twitter
Twitter is social
media website which enable users to share a short message called “Tweet”. It is
a Micro blogging site. It is used for:
•
Sharing of industry information and updates, usually
through sharing links
•
following new companies and their technology
•
Receive up to date info through following active
users
•
Conversation starter
•
Forum to create company buzz
Facebook
It is most popular
social media website. It is becoming an important marketing strategy to
increase brand awareness and customer loyalty i.e. “LIKE” button. Facebook has wider reach but more
casual than LinkedIn. It is used for:
- Blogs and Discussion Forums
•
Receive real time industry updates
•
Search for new product releases
•
Expand marketing tools for customer base
•
Reach new clients
•
Follow and engage in industry discussions
•
Serves as a ‘classifieds’ page or open source
link
Advantages of social media
- — Marketing
- — Building Social Networks
- — Educational Discussion & Help
- — Accessing Information
Social Networks as a Business
Today everything is about
marketing. No matter whether your product or service is best in quality or not,
people will get attract to that product or service whose marketing is good. By
marketing public will get attracted and will know about products.
•
It’s all about
advertising
•
Brand recognition
•
Monetization of information: The users are the
product, they willingly provide information which can be used to target ads
Using Social Media for Marketing
Now there are new ways for to reach consumers . Companies
can create accounts on
social media websites and:
- Can create fan pages on Facebook or MySpace
- Twitter allows companies to spread information to followers
- Rewards for "like"ing a page
Viral Marketing
•
Social media networks allow companies to access
younger markets and particular demographic groups.
•
Companies can reach consumers who uses mobile
devices for product or company research.
Other Consequences
•
Are corporate social media pages more or less
personable than a standard website?
•
I choose to "like" something
•
"You have 5 friends who like this”
Disadvantages of social media
Besides huge advantages of social media, there are
also disadvantages like:
1.
Cyber Bulling
2.
Cyber Frauds
3.
Fake Profiles
4.
Privacy
5.
Security
Privacy Concerns
•
Burglary is increasingly plausible
•
Facebook is increasingly being used in divorce
cases: Personal information is available and is hackable.
•
Personal opinion groups impact relationships
Cyber Bullying
•
Defined as, “the use of information and communication technologies
to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or
group, that is intended to harm others.”
•
Most common among teenagers in school and
colleges.
•
Extreme cases in recent memory have resulted in
suicide.
How are Teens Cyber-bullied?
Bullies might exhibit the following:
•
Pretend they are other people online to trick
others
•
Spread lies and rumors about victims
•
Trick people into revealing personal information
•
Send or forward mean messages
Effects of Bullying
•
Strong links between bullying, depression and
suicidal thoughts and attempts
•
Cyber bullying victims are nearly twice as
likely to have attempted suicide as were non-victims
•
Recent suicide at Rutgers University
Conclusion
Advancement in technology is increasing day by day. The usage and
popularity of social media is increasing with technology. Technology and social
media has revolutionized every field of this world. It has reduced human
effort. It has bring ease to our life and new ways to find solution to our
problem. Social media has played a great role in marketing and business field.
Beside this, especially younger generation is getting spoiled and fully
dependent on technology and social media. To reduce these negative aspects, we
all have to play our roles. Parents
should monitor internet usage and activities of children. Educational institutes must also play role. Most Cyber Bullying
takes place away from campus. Administrators struggle with the limits of school
authority in dealing with off-campus cyber bullying. Bullying results in suicide so,
harassing someone over the Internet should be a punishable crime. So, every
individual and community must have to play their role in removing all these
negative aspects, as these are spreading like disease in our society.
