Social Media; What does it mean to your business
There is a lot of buzz on the internet right now about Social Media or Web 2.0 as it is commonly called. Yet at the same time almost every business person that we have spoken to in our offline networking, doesn’t even know what Social Media is or what it can mean to their business. So lets start with a definition.
According to http://wikipedia.com;
Social media is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and “building” of shared meaning, as people share their stories, and understandings.
That sounds like a textbook, so lets break it down a little. Social Media (Web 2.0) is all about creating a conversation with your audience. A good example of this is the blog you are reading right now. I created the content and posted it. At the end I am going to ask you to comment on this post. This starts a conversation between us. But this just barely scratches the surface. There are so many different types of social media sites out there. I have a directory with over 1600 of them. they cover the spectrum from Video Sharing to Social Networks. But they all have the same thing in common to create a meaningful conversation with their audience.
This is vastly different from the websites of the past. Most websites are Web 1.0. They have no facility for conversation. They are static. In other words, the content rarely changes, and there is no interaction.
So what does this mean to your business.
Good Question!
The problem is consumers have too many choices. For example, if they need an attorney, they can pick up the phonebook, search the web, and find hundreds upon hundreds of attorneys that are competing for the same business. How do you differentiate yourself from your competition and make it clear to your prospect, that you alone are the best person for the job. That’s where Web 2.0 comes in.
When you take the time to create a Social Media presence with lots of content that establishes you as an expert in your field. You make their buying decision that much easier. When you make it possible for them to communicate with you, you prove to them that you are a real person. You also establish credibility, because your customer can respond to you in a public forum, about how your product has helped them. If they have a negative experience, then they can voice that as well. Either way you benefit. Either from testimonials, or complaints that you can address publicly, which will help your company stand out.
In this blog we will be discussing the various forms of social media and how to use them in your business. Keep checking back for updates or better yet subscribe by filling out the form on the side. You will be notified by email every time there’s an update. Plus you’ll get our mind-map of our 10 favorite social media sites
To Your Success,
Michael and Teresa Blaes
