Many people know there are benefits from participating in social media, but some remain uninvolved. Sites like Facebook and Wordpress have changed the way the world operates, both in personal lives and professional playing fields. This article is for those looking at social media, but still needing a few more reasons to join in the revolution.
1. Trust me, it’s simple
Navigating the sea of social media applications available seems overwhelming. Fear not my friend; the following explanation of basic social media tool categories will turn your stormy voyage into an enjoyable cruise.
Weblogs – Blogs for short. Weblogs in their simplest form are journals or newsletters, updated over time. Don’t let their simplicity fool you though; blogs can grow to the size (and readership) of nationally syndicated newspapers. But let’s keep it simple for now.
Your blog will help you:
- Share news and information with your groups
- Upload quality images for the world to see. Zero trees killed!
- Track the number of people reading your content
- Archive stories and information, for readers to leisurely peruse
- Allow readers to comment and share ideas about your content
- Act as a gateway – linking to your website, social accounts, and more
- With the proper care, your blog will develop authority and notoriety online
Blogging resources: www.wordpress.com ; www.blogger.com ; www.home.spaces.live.com
Social Networks – Gone are the days where social networking was the realm of drunken college shenanigans or outlets for teenage angst. Social networks have grown up. Sites like Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn are used by CEO’s, rock stars, stay at home moms, multinational corporations, and just about everyone else in between. Are you ready to connect to these people?
Your social network account will help you:
- Organize and track your groups
- Keep up with the lives of those you care
- Connect with people of similar interests
- Express yourself and the values of your organization
- Join or create groups of people, passionate about similar issues
A few sites: www.facebook.com ; www.linkedin.com ; www.myspace.com
Microblogs – Okay you say, “We just went over blogs, now what’s with the micro?!” Don’t worry! When it comes to technology, smaller is often simpler and more powerful. Microblogs are applications that allow users to broadcast short messages, within 140 characters, to those on their contact lists. But don’t let small stature fool you, this tool is incredibly useful.
Your microblog will help you:
- Quickly inform others about events and happenings
- Have real conversations – gasp!
- Share links to read your latest content
- Track how people are accessing your content
- Understand what issues your group is interested in
- Share links to interesting sites and articles
A few sites: www.twitter.com ; www.blippr.com
2. Stronger message, farther reach
So you’ve got your monthly newsletter and email updates, that’s great! But don’t settle for less. Social media tools, like the ones mentioned above, will make your message more accessible, last longer, and reach more people. Providing a convenient access point to all your content will increase the likelihood that it gets read. Also, creating an online persona will allow others with similar goals to find you. Finally, people are constantly moving in life. Creating a stable online presence for your organization makes things much easier.
3. Measurable results for smarter campaigns
Repeat after me, “measurability, measurability, measurability!” Most organizations value the ability to gauge effectiveness of communication campaigns. Social media tools are crucial in this regard. You can find out who’s saying what about your company, and where they talk. You can see how many people read your posts. You can see how far your links are being passed. And when you see all that, it can be deeply satisfying.
4. Conversations > Broadcasts
Let’s face it. People enjoy being talked with, over being talked at. This may be the number one reason why social media grows by leaps and bounds. Conversations generate ideas, which lead to action. Year after year, your newsletter writes about the annual bake sale. What if you found out readers were dying to get their hands on the recipes instead? Social media will let others voice those needs. And once an organization starts listening to its followers, your credibility and community will thrive.
5. The sooner you start the better
Building your social media network is an organic process. It takes time to create content and develop contacts enough to establish credibility for your organization. This means the time to start is now. One of the easiest ways is by creating a Facebook profile if you don’t already have one. This platform allows you access to enough applications to keep you busy for a while.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:16 am
good points