Social Media Medium

Definition

Business Use

MySpace

Personal website for the youth market.  Many music industry businesses, artists and bands have MySpace pages.

Unless your market is teenagers and musicians, having a profile on MySpace is less likely than other social media to meet your objectives.

Twitter

Micro blogging is blogging but in a much smaller way.  Twitter allows only 140 characters for each status message you ‘tweet’.

Follow industry leaders and your competitors, get the inside information first.

Post information about sales and promotions, updates from conferences and events, links to press.

Participate in conversations with potential customers.

Use search or your followers to get immediate answers on questions.

Follow trends and keep a track of those talking about your business.

LinkedIn

An online resume for professionals that allows them to connect, provide references and share information.

Connect with current and previous employees.

Connect with current and previous employers.

Expand your network.  Recruit.

Connect with others in your industry.

Facebook

A personal site for individuals or groups to display photos, videos and status information with friends and those with similar interests.

Hang out where your customers are hanging out.  Access a new demographic.

Enable people to easily find your contact details, hours of opening, information on special events.

Create a group relevant to your business and allow individuals to become members.

Bebo

Another for the youth market.  Provides a page for teens to list their favourite things and link to videos and photos.

Again, unless your market is very young, there is little value to setting up a Bebo account.

Web logs (Blogs)

Online journals that allow the reader to comment and interact with the writer.

Create your own company blog to:

·         Update colleagues or clients on projects

·         Build your reputation as a credible source of information on your products, services or processes

·         Network and learn by visiting and commenting on other blogs

·         Communicate to customers and potential customers about your business

Wikipedia

User generated online encyclopedia.

Create your own company wiki for:

·           Internal company procedures / policies

·           Product support documentation

·           Collaborative ideas – projects and events

·           Intranet

Flickr

Photo sharing by uploading, tagging and add them to public pools that showcase works of a certain subject, style or genre.  Allows for comments and viewer interaction.

Create an online portfolio of your products.

Document a process using photographs.

Post conference and events photos to help people get to know you.

YouTube

Video sharing by uploading and tagging.  Allows for comments and viewer interaction.

Promote your business or products.  Podcast information specific to your company, make it relevant and interesting to attract viewers.