Week 13: Clear on Social Media Use in Business

Social Media in the Business World

"Social Media Buzz" by Widjaya Ivan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28288673@N07/4847679257/

Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Why is Social Media so Important in Business?

Social media is so extremely important to us because it allows us to market our products and our ideas. Your company will be left behind if you don't learn to use the new social media type websites like blogging, video sharing websites, and social networking websites.  Today, marketers are so involved in using these social media websites, helping their business reach a large audience quicker and effectively. Social Media allows businesses to communicate with their consumers to hear their experiences with their products. 

What can businesses do to start using Social Media?

Businesses need to create a firm plan before jumping into social media:

• Who do they want their audience to be? Who do they want to market to?
• What is the goal that they would like to accomplish with social networking?
• How are they going to get people to become involved in their social media, and what techniques will they use?
• What is their plan to put into action so that they will be successful?

What are some examples of social media websites?

Numerous social media websites include: 

Digg, StumbleUpon, Youtube, Squidoo, Foursqure, Facebook, Twitter, Del.icio.us,  LinkedIn

And MANY MORE!

How does Social Media Influence us in the Business World?

Social Media influences the business world because it helps businesses but can also harm them. A bad presence or presentation on a social media website can do harm to a company's reputation. A company's image after a tragedy can be seen on their social media websites immediately after an incident because that is where the consumers will be looking. 

Social Media also hurts individuals because businesses use social media hubs to collect information on you when they are looking to hire you. Pictures of "a night out with the guys", showing you with a beer bottle in hand, and also under the age of 21, will cost you when applying for a job.

In the end, social media is huge in the business world and many businesses are making the shift to FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, and much more. Companies are making it easy to receive coupons online, and market their products efficiently with these methods. It is a hub for companies to reach millions of people with the click of a button!

That's all for this week. Thanks for reading!