The Social Media Network

The Social Network (2010), a film by Columbia Pictures, is a film that expertly reflects how our world currently operates, highlighting the birth of Facebook and its role in our everyday lives. In that film, Sean Parker, founder of Napster, exclaims, “We lived on farms, then we lived in cities, and now we’re going to live on the internet!”

If you don’t have a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram, you are undoubtedly in the minority. In 2013, nearly one in four people worldwide were users of social networks. In the current state of the world, we certainly do live online.

It’s no secret then why social media has become a space for businesses and advertisers alike. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, as well as other social networks, all run ads and sponsored posts; even while you are on there for your personal satisfaction, you will come across advertisements, many of which are catered specifically for you, based on your profile and your interests.

The fact that social media has become ingrained within the fabric of our lives means it’s an unavoidable presence. In the digital age, the mentality has long been adapt or die; as a result, it is best to be innovative and keep ahead of the curve.

These social networks don’t often serve as a replacement for homepages. The main website for a business may still serve as a professional base, where contact information and your work can be found. If your audience is on various social media platforms, the purpose of social media then becomes connecting with your audience directly.

Be Original

It’s important to keep in mind how people are using social media. They are often scrolling up and down posts, flying through content, seeing text and images and oftentimes receiving a very brief introduction to what these posts are about. This means a number of things for those actively using social media as a way of connecting with their audience.

The first is that social media posts should stand out to the consumer and attract them so that they will want to click and receive more information. These posts should engage and entertain your audience, but it is the first impression of a shared article or image that matters. In this sense, you may want to think about what will catch the attention of a reader, whether it is a brief, but effective title or caption, or a relevant image that will register with them.

The second is utilizing social media in an effective manner, seeing which ones work and don’t work for you and making adjustments where necessary. This means posting enough material throughout the day and week. In fact, you may want to be careful about how little or how much you post. If your readers feel overwhelmed by how much content is being made available, an unfollow is only a click away; similarly, you want to establish an online presence rather than remain obscure to those who do want information.

Be Social

This is another important aspect that is often overlooked. It’s that you may want to remember the word “social” in “social media.” The purpose of social media is involving your audience, so you may want to treat them like real people. This is easier said than done; when creating content, you may sometimes forget that these are real people that you are reaching out to. If you keep your audience in mind, especially when utilizing social media, you can better connect with them on a more personal level.

There are various ways in which you may want to do this, such as posing questions and asking for feedback or starting a conversation that will engage your followers. The goal, quite simply, is fostering a relationship with your audience on these platforms. There is no sure-fire method, only trial and error, mainly because this is still new territory for so many. It’s a process of discovery, finding what’s engaging for your audience and what their needs are. In addition, it’s also about staying relevant. If you’re constantly aware of what’s going on around you and your respective industry, you may be more successful in connecting with your audience, who is likely interested in information that is timely.

Conclusion

The use of social media for businesses may certainly increase exposure. It’s also been shown that social media improves brand loyalty. In a competitive world, loyalty is an important factor. In using social media, you now have a platform for connecting with consumers directly rather than indirectly. Twitter, for example, offers a space where companies can constantly communicate with consumers.

In addition, you may consider social media as a way of better servicing your consumers. There are a number of companies that engage with their consumers directly, by responding to their queries or reaching out to those who have had a positive or negative experience. This can be utilized as an advantage, considering this kind of interaction previously didn’t exist before the internet or social media.

In short, it’s important to be inventive with all of the tools that are now at our disposal. These are avenues in which we can connect with audiences in ways that we previously couldn’t. If social media is where our lives now exist and where our attention is, we may want to think about ways in which we can utilize them for our professional needs. These social media networks are definitely being used for leisure, but these networks are also opportunities to connect people with things that they personally care about. In a world where many people skip through commercials or look at their mobile devices during them, perhaps it is possible to still connect with them where they feel most comfortable.

Citations:

eMarketer: Social Networking Reaches Nearly One in Four Around the World

Material Disclosure: This content is for informational purposes only. ZeroParallel.com does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, content or advertisements contained on, distributed through, or linked, downloaded or accessed from any of the services contained on this website, nor the quality of any products, information or other materials displayed, purchased, or obtained by you as a result of reading and using this site. Zero Parallel, LLC may temporarily remove or delete what appears to be potentially unlawful content or content otherwise prohibited under this policy. Please consult your legal counsel before relying or acting on any information provided on this or any third party website.