Posts Tagged ‘social media networking’

The Social Media Revolution: Are You Connected?

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Today celebrates the revolution in the way the cyberworld is changing how the real world relates to one another – through social media. It’s hard to deny the fact of the impact social media is making on us as a society.

Social media has offered people a voice.

It has helped us reunite with old grade school and high school classmates, stay connected with  friends and family throughout all parts of the world, discuss current news headlines and allow the average person walking down the street to report on world events, as seen through Twitter and Facebook from the streets of Cairo, Libya and Egypt during the past year.

Throughout the past year, we’ve seen Facebook pages smothered with protest and riot plans, photographs uploaded to Flickr and Photobucket and video clips posted onto YouTube. We saw the riots and protests of other countries being displayed through text messages, cell phone images, Twitter posts and Facebook updates.

A global revolution was being created with social media.

Facebook: Numbers Don’t Lie

According to the second annual Arab Social Media Report by the Dubai School of Government and posted on Christian Science Monitor, a quarter of all Facebook users in the Middle East are Egyptian. From January to April this year – the height of the Tahrir uprising – membership on the social site increased by 2 million, the report says.

Although the site is relatively new, its power is undeniable.

eMarketer estimates 132.5 million people in the US will be using Facebook this year, and by 2013, that number will increase to 152.1 million.
Pause. Take a minute to let that soak in. It’s quite astonishing news.

The growth will be driven primarily by increased use among older baby boomers and seniors. Teens and young adults will continue to be the core of Facebook’s audience.

Social Media Day Has People Connected

Social Media Day Has People Connected

Social Media Evolution: The Impact on Our Lives

The evolution of Social Media is happening right before our very eyes. It’s not only changing the way we all live in the present, but it’s also going to affect how we exchange information and live in the future.

Social media has impacted our society and infiltrated the way in which we do everything – literally. From finding the latest deals on food items at local grocery stores, reading reviews on local handymen, having discussions on world news through Twitter and Facebook, hosting Webinars on various topics and so much more!

The obvious factor that social media is becoming so huge is that it’s social. We as humans, for the most part, enjoy socializing with others. Why wouldn’t we enjoy and latch onto technology that enhances our ability to socialize not just with people from our own country, but from all parts of the world? We want to interact with others and have as many discussions as possible on endless topics.

Since 2008, users of social media have nearly doubled, according to a survey released this month by Pew Internet, a project of the Pew Research Center. 59%of Internet users say they use at least one social networking site, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or MySpace.

Only time will tell how much more we can learn and interact with the Internet and if people will continue to accept it with open arms.

Are you ready? Get your seatbelt on. It may be a bumpy ride.

Is Liking and Following Just a Numbers Game?

Friday, June 17th, 2011

100,000 “likes” on Facebook and 100 “followers” on Twitter. You’re company is rocking with your target audience. Or, is it?

Companies have become dedicated to obtaining a high number of fans on Facebook and followers on Twitter, thinking it’s going to boost the company image and increase business.

The numbers game is so appealing to companies because it’s simple and something tangible. They can see the numbers their competitor have and work to pass them.

Likes and Followers is Just a Numbers Game

"Likes" and "Followers" is Just a Numbers Game

What companies don’t know is that research has shown that fewer than 20% of visitors who “like” a business page on Facebook ever return. “Likes” are really pointless. They don’t add value to your company. What’s the point of having so many “likes” if the person has no intention of purchasing your product, or service?

Rather than spend all the company’s resources focusing on gaining so many “likes” and followers”, companies need to use the energy to engage with the audience through comments, re-tweets and discussions.

If companies are so focused on having the highest number of “likes” and followers, then they need to do something productive with all those people’s attention surfing the social networking sites.

Read the full article here.

Quora Social Network: My Dabbling Into Another World Part 1

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Dumbfounded by Quora? You never heard of it? No worries. Me either, till today. I actually kind of just stumbled upon it through an article I read in Chief Content Officer (CCO) Magazine.
I find the entire concept fascinating. It’s another component of the social media world that I can take part in.

After my initial sign up on the site, (which only took a minute; all you need is your full name, E-mail and password) I was ready to start “Quoraing.”

According to the site, Quora is a continually improving collection of questions and answers created, edited, and organized by everyone who uses it. The most important thing is to have each question page become the best possible resource for someone who wants to know about the question.

Sounds pretty neat, huh? My initial reaction to the site was that it’s a cross between Twitter and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. I say this because you can “follow” different topics and you can add your own answers to questions and topics just like Wikipedia allows you to do.

I frequently use Google to find the answers to many questions. It appears that Quora is another tool to use on the Web when surfing for answers.
I found out that Quora was Co-founded by Adam D’Angelo and Charlie Cheever. Both guys worked for Facebook and hold degrees in Computer Science. I browsed the rest of the “team” and it appears that every person holds some type of computer degree from either Caltech, Harvard, or Standford. Pretty impressive I must say. The site also has a detailed Private Policy and Terms and Services section.

No matter what your interests are, Quora appears to be a unique platform where you can search from topics ranging from music, travel, cooking, science and so much more! I am already “following” sports, politics and SEO. I made my first post on the sports page.

I am excited to start searching the site and to take part in the conversations. I have no idea if Quora will become as huge as Twitter, Wikipedia, or Facebook. I don’t know the impact it will have on businesses and companies, if any. Time will tell. In the mean time, I will be navigating the site and adding my own input. Quora appears to be a neatly organized smorgasbord of Q&A’s and topics, and I am ready to divulge in the information.

Stay tuned on my updates and how I think Quora will do in the social media world!
Off to “Qweet.” :o )