An introduction to social media -

If you still think ‘Twitter’ is a noise made by birds and that ‘Facebook’ is some photo album, this beginner’s guide to social media is for you.

Over the past decade, social media has turned the world on its head. If you haven’t yet understood social media and how it can help your business, it’s time to start.

What is social media?
Social media allows people worldwide to view, share, comment, and discuss content online. Put very simply, social media takes social interaction online. The term is distinct from traditional industrial media such as newspapers, magazines and television. It refers to digital media hosted on the internet, such as blogs, videos and podcasts.

Is it another fad?
Social media has become essential to society's functions and is undoubtedly here to stay. But it’s a rapidly evolving landscape: the currently popular social media forms may morph and take on new characteristics in the future, or they may fall out of favour altogether and be replaced by others.

How can it help my business?
Here are just a few ways social networking could have benefits for your business:

• Gain publicity: Today, many journalists and television shows have Twitter accounts. Identify and follow journalists who cover topics within your area of expertise. They might be looking for a comment to include in their next article; being digitally connected to them means you’ll be one of the first to know – and with some luck, you could end up with some great PR!
• Converse with your customers: Think of social media not just as an opportunity to broadcast your message but as a way for consumers to get involved with, connect with and give feedback to your business. Make it possible to dialogue with your business; you will find it builds awareness and generates substantial feedback. A blog is an excellent way to do this.
• Contact your target audience: Searching on Twitter and Facebook can help you find people searching for exactly what you have to offer. It can also be used to collaborate or communicate with other businesses with your target audience. Think of it as traditional face-to-face networking in a digital format.
• Gain influential testimonials: Bloggers are no longer just glorified diary writers. Some have enormous audiences and are more than willing to advertise something if they believe in its worth. Should you find a blogger you believe would love your product, send it to them. A blog post about your product or service from someone influential in your target market could generate even more interest than you’d get from PR in the mainstream media.

Find your hub

Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs and Twitter are currently the most popular social media tools by far, so if you’re going to start anywhere, start with one of these. Once you’ve mastered it, move on to the next.

Take a long-term view

Remember, it’s not just about setting up a page and walking away. It takes time and effort, and the best way to succeed long-term is to be consistent with your social media efforts. It’s also important to decide how your business will be portrayed in social media.