Social Media An Introduction to the “Big 3”

“Social media describes the online technologies and practices that people use to share content, opinions, insights, experiences, perspectives and media themselves.” Source: Wikipedia Social Media’s Definition What is social media?

Social Media on the Web What is social media? 1. Watching videos (83%) 2. Reading blogs (73%) 3. Viewing shared photos (63%) 4. Using a social network (57%) 5. Commenting on blogs (55%) Source: Universal McCann Wave 3 (April 2008)

Categories What is social media? Blogging Professional networks Social networks Video sharing Photo sharing Micro-blogging Podcasts Virtual worlds Wikis Chat Rooms

Categories What is social media? Blogging Professional networks Social networks Video sharing Photo sharing Micro-blogging Podcasts Virtual worlds Wikis Chat Rooms

Professional Networks

Professional Networks What are they? Professional networks allow the user to build a real-time virtual resume or company profile. They allow you to share information and connect with colleagues, employers and industry leaders.

Professional Your resume Less “noise” Weekday Professional vs. Social Social Your drivers license Rock concert Weekend TIME

Linkedin Plaxo Spoke Yelp XING Viadeo Visual CV Professional Networks Examples

Linkedin Plaxo Spoke Yelp XING Viadeo Visual CV Professional Networks Examples

+45,000,000 professionals (+12% in six months) +500,000 senior executives Avg household income of $109K Executives from every Fortune new member every second - 1/2 membership from outside of U.S.A. Professional Networks Who uses Linkedin? Source: Linkedin

Self-promotion: if you don’t, who will? Research potential candidates Advertise job listings Get introduced to industry leaders Maintain your online presence “Answers” section (crowdsourcing) Why should you care about Linkedin?

Social Networks

Social Networks What are they? A social network is a social structure made up of individuals or organizations that are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as values, visions, ideas, financial exchange, friendship, kinship or dislikes. Source: Wikipedia

Facebook MySpace Friendster Classmates.com Kaixin (“Happy Net”) myYearbook Social Networks Examples

Facebook MySpace Friendster Classmates.com Kaixin (China) myYearbook

More then 350 million active users (+75% in six months) 250,000 new registrants per day since 1/2007 Fastest growing age demographic is + 35 years old Over half of users are outside of college +700,000 local businesses have a Facebook page Social Networks Who uses Facebook? Source: web-strategist.com

More then 4 billion minutes are spent on FB each day worldwide (+33% in three months) More then 100 million users log-in each day Average user spends more then 55 minutes per day on FB Business pages - more then 6 million users become fans of pages each day Why should you (and your business) care about Facebook?

Facebook business pages… …give your business rapid top Google placement (2nd most trafficked site in U.S.A. - 2nd in the world). …give you access to targeted user information. …expand your web presence …are free.

Micro-blogging

A form of multimedia blogging that allows users to send brief (usually 140 character) updates or media such as photos or audio clips and publish them. Micro-blogging What is it? Source: Wikipedia

Twitter, the most popular micro-blog in the U.S., is also the fastest growing social network site in the world. Why should you care about micro-blogging? Source: Neilsen Online

Why should your business care about Twitter?

Twitter is searchable. Why should your business care about Twitter? Let’s give it a try with the word “shoes”

But who is “Footwearetc”?

Keys to using Social Media Use the search functions - it’s where the $value$ is Be responsive and active - talk to people Make frequent deposits into your social media savings account Have a plan and a purpose

Thanks for your time. Ross Evans