Posts Tagged connect
Facebook’s Latest Privacy Blunder
Posted by Damon in Community, Social Media on October 18, 2010
It seems like every time we turn around, we hear about another hole in Facebook’s security that is potentially threatening to your privacy. Today we learned about a new privacy concern that can allow certain people to gain access to your User ID. Who has access and what does it mean for your overall profile privacy? Read below to get the scoop.
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The 3 Essential Functions of Social Media
Posted by Stephanie in Business Intelligence on July 27, 2010
A friend asked me the other day why companies get involved in social media. After posing her question, she proceeded to answer it herself. “So they can do more advertising and stuff, right?” Wrong. There may be some companies out there that just use social media to further flood the market with their current ad campaign, but there is so much more to social media. And the companies that are truly successful at social media understand that it is so much more.
1. Monitor
One of the most basic functions of social media is to help businesses monitor their name, brand, and products as they’re discussed in the online world. This is a crucial point that many businesses overlook. There will always be conversations online and in real life about people, places and things and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. But a business can monitor and listen to those conversations and in some cases join in on the conversation. This is particularly important when it comes to negative comments about a company’s product or service. Often a scorned customer can be appeased with a simple acknowledgment of the problem and an apology. People want to be heard and they want people to care about what they have to say. If they don’t feel like they’re being taken seriously, a problem that often times could be quickly and easily resolved, gets blown entirely out of proportion. Look at the apple iphone fiasco. The antenna issue could be easily resolved with bumpers to fix the reception. Had apple immediately acknowledged the reception issue, apologized and said “We’re looking into it,” maybe they wouldn’t be facing a class-action lawsuit. Instead, Steve Jobs chose to deny, deny, deny and they’re in much hotter water because of it.
Social media and how it works for your business
Posted by Stephanie in Business Intelligence on May 4, 2010
Social media in its simplest form is any medium which promotes debate, discussion, or the exchange of information within its community. One form of social media is social networking but it’s not limited to the number of friends you have on MySpace. Gathering at the water cooler after lunch is a form of social networking as is attending a chamber luncheon. Social networking has and will always be the lifeline of business. Whether you sell products or services, your bottom line is always directly affected by the number of people you can connect with to make the sale. And you connect with those people through social media.
Social media is constantly changing. With the inception of Web 2.0, businesses and customers can finally cut out the middle man and communicate directly with one another. That doesn’t mean that older forms of social media are obsolete. It means that the way we connect with one another is expanding exponentially. This expansion leads to more and better forms of communication every day. And improved communication leads to a higher bottom line for your business.
So give social networking a try. Sign up for Twitter or Facebook so you connect directly with your customers. If social networking doesn’t sound like your thing, don’t forget there are other forms of social media. Set up a blog to share your knowledge and insights and to build your credibility as a business. Post photos to websites like Flickr or Photobucket to allow your customers a better view of what exactly it is you do. Use websites like Digg or iGoogle to keep up to date and in the know on what your customers are saying.
It doesn’t matter which form of social media you use. The important thing is to embrace these new avenues and to connect with your customers. Don’t shy away from them simply because they’re unfamiliar and not a part of your tried-and-true business model. If you’re not sure which medium is best for you, experiment! Nearly all of these tools could be useful to your business in one way or another. If you’re having trouble, find any one of a number of consultants that can help you navigate the world of social media. No matter how you do it, join in and enjoy the rewards of connecting with your customers.
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