What is social media?
“Social media” is a phrase tossed around so much these days that it’s often misunderstood and misinterpreted. Wikipedia defines social media as “media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques”. But this doesn’t really tell the whole story.
Here’s what social media means to us:
Social media is…
- Conversation
- Interaction
- Sharing
- Empowering
- Networking
- Personalisation
- Real-time
- Contextual
- Mobile
- Measurable
Social media describes the tools and technologies that allow people to share and discuss information online. For example:
- Social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn
- Blogging platforms like WordPress and Blogger
- Video sharing sites like YouTube and Vimeo
- Photo sharing sites like Flickr
- Microblogging sites like Twitter
- Social bookmarking sites like Delicious and Pinboard
The tools are always changing as technology adapts and evolves. What’s popular today may not be popular tomorrow. However, the fundamental idea is still the same: social media is all about using technology to share information. The result is a vast network of people engaging with each other on various topics; from knitting to dog training and from antiques to fashion photography.
Rising out of this mire of topical conversations are influencers who shape the ebb and flow of those conversations.
The impact of social media on brands is monumental. Social media means that brands are no longer totally in control of their own destinies. Instead, consumers are becoming significantly influential in carving the shape of their most and least favourite brands. At Market Sentinel, our goal is to help businesses make sense of social media and use it to better understand and market their brands.
