By nature, human beings are social creatures. We join groups, crave acceptance, share our opinions and make time to mingle. Online is no different and, for many, just as daunting to develop a social life behind the screen as it is to choose who to chat to at the next networking event. Social media is no longer a term reserved for high-tech companies. It?s the way the world interacts online through platforms built to exchange user-generated content and with over two billion active internet users world wide, it?s the way individuals, consumers and businesses are developing their brands.
Actions used on social media sites have become common terms in everyday lingo as ?tweeting, following and unfriending? are widely understood verbs across continents and for those both young and old. With benefits on both a personal level as well as for organizations, social networking can no longer be ignored.
?Social media has completely changed the way businesses operate,? says Alicia Quan, founder and director of Social Media Communications for Capital Q Creative. 80% of companies intend to incorporate social media into their customer service strategies in 2013. And for good reason. According to Nielsen, the global leader in information and measurement, Internet users continue to spend more time on social media sites than any other type of site. While it may be hard to determine what social strategies will be a benefit as an individual or an organization, understanding what tools can be used and how to use them is the first step to building an online presence.
As the most visited website on the world wide web, beating out search engine giant Google, Facebook has quickly become the most popular social networking site for Internet users of all ages. Facebook has grown to include over 1 billion active users who sign on to their personal profile page and interact with friends, colleagues and businesses through the exchange of messages, posting of photos and sharing of links.
Facebook has facilitated the ease in which individuals can stay in touch no matter where in the world they may be, proving distance doesn?t mean relationships have to suffer. Users have found long-lost relatives, connected with high school sweethearts and made friends out of acquaintances.
Facebook?s popularity has also been a blessing for businesses, whom have jumped on the online bandwagon. Driving heavy amounts of traffic to one?s website, a Facebook Page allows an organization to post photos, encourage ?sharing? or ?liking? of their content and interact with their consumers in a noticeable way. Through consistent marketing material and engaging consumers, Facebook has given companies a way to stand out while simultaneously allowing supporters to be actively involved.
Coming in second in terms of public popularity, Twitter challenges users to express themselves in 140 characters or less ? meaning short sentences are shared with a user?s followers in the hopes of interacting with like-minded individuals, promoting a product, reaching out to celebrities or simply sharing your everyday musings online. Twitter is instant, quick and uncomplicated communication.
You might be thinking, so why would I join Twitter? I?ve got nothing to say. Twitter isn?t just about what you have to say; with over 500 million registered users, there are more than enough people talking. Twitter is a source of news, jokes and casual conversation topics for some silent participants while just as many support companies in the hopes of catching a coupon or voicing a concern.
Twitter has become a customer service centre and businesses are expected to react and respond to the many comments and complaints posted daily by consumers. ?Both positive and negative, customer feedback in general is going straight to these brands and giving them instant and more frequent marketing research,? Quan says. Active participation on Twitter, if done correctly, allows a brand to remain in front of its customers and promote a positive presence in the online communities where their consumers congregate.
YouTube
Creating overnight sensations of Internet superstars and spreading smiles with cute cats and laughing babies, YouTube has successfully attracted over 800 million unique users a month to its video sharing site. Users are able to upload, view, share and comment on video content made up of TV clips, music videos, video blogging and amateur creations. It is the best platform for building a brand through video blogs, tutorials and product promotion that encourages interaction through likes, comments and the ability to easily share visual content.
If creating contacts and exploring opportunities are the basis of networking in the professional sense, then it?s no surprise that a site dedicated to such a thing thrives on the Internet. LinkedIn is a social networking site used to manage, build and engage a professional network. Over 200 million users are able to post their skills, search for jobs and maintain a list of connections. Forbes has called LinkedIn ?the most advantageous social networking tool available to job seekers and business professionals today.?
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Conclusion
The number of sites dedicated to social media continues to grow daily. With users populating Pinterest, GooglePlus, StumbleUpon and Instagram among others, on an hourly basis, finding the right place to promote yourself can certainly be a challenge. ?If you stay true to who you are and what your target audience wants to see, you?re on the right track,? Quan advises.
Understanding what social media sites do and how you can use them to stay connected is essential to leveraging your online presence. Whether you?re looking to find friends, stalk a celebrity or become the next Justin Bieber, there?s a social networking site that is right for you.
Categories: 2013, Family & Community, Features, LifeStyle, March - April 2013, Online Articles, The Magazine
Read More About: Chating, facebook, Facebook and Instagram, Friends, instagram, LinkedIn, Messaging, Networking, online community, social media, Social network, twitter, youtube.You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS 2.0.
Source: http://www.darpanmagazine.com/2013/03/seeking-a-social-life/
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