SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD
- Bellerina Tan
- Feb 7, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 26, 2020
The world of social media
In this post, I will be blogging about how social media marketing started. The internet was discovered around 1990s , when it was used for purely internet searches. As technology got more advanced, it evolved over time.
Web 2.0 are websites that enables people to interact and connect with one another in a virtual community, even when they are not physically together. It includes internet applications, which is an evolved version of the first worldwide web. Some examples are Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
As of 2017, more than half of the 7.5 billion world's population uses the internet, and 2.89 billion of them have active social media accounts!!
Here is a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of using social media:
Advantages:
1. Almost-instant communication
Social media platforms help to relay messages in a much shorter time. Through these platforms, information spreads faster than any other media. In times of global emergencies, people do not need to only stay tune to communication channels such as television, radio and newspapers for live updates. Within minutes, information can be relayed and people will be able to save time to respond to the situation.
2. Promotes social changes
Since social media has become part of our lives, positivity can spread social behaviours and thoughts. Two examples are to be economically responsible to the environment and having compassionate behaviour. Norms can be changed over time when people come across advertisements or even videos. With combined efforts, individuals having like-minded mentally can connect virtually to continue promoting social behaviours.
3. Staying connected
As friends and family move on to different phases of their lives, they may not have time to stay in touch. But thanks to social media platforms, they are able to now! With just a tap or click into social media platforms, it allows people remain connected. This also enables individuals to know where the other individual have gone, be it abroad, work or home.
Disadvantages:
1. Privacy
It is possible to get carried away and over-sharing on social media platforms. Especially when profiles are not being kept private, or when strangers are accepted to view these individuals', they are allowing these strangers to know what is going on in their lives. There might not only be loved ones who are staying connected, but there is even the possibility of stalkers with ill intentions.
2. Lacking physical connection
More people are spending most of their time constantly checking for updates, scrolling on their social media feed. This leads to neglecting physical social interactions. It some cases, there can even lead to social isolation or introversion because they are used to connecting only on social networking platforms.
3. Stealing information
A lot of people in the population have been exposed to learn how digitalizing and even information technology. It even came to a point that identify and theft fraud can easily be done. With having the basic information as email, password and username, the thief can login and pretend to be the user, trying to obtain more personal information.
That aside, what about social media marketing?
There are so many things that social media marketing can do. For businesses, they mainly would want use it for brand awareness and financial profits.
Anybody can possibly become a social media influencer. Even you, me or almost anyone can become one! The use of social media is used to reach out to audience to even build a company brand and also gain profits. The reason why there are so many people trying to make big in this industry is because there are a lot in it for them. It can range from a huge spectrum such as, receiving free products (that are not sample sizes), holiday trips and sometimes even cash.
What influencers have to do are to be content creators, including connecting, analyzing response and talking more about products. As compared to traditional ways of advertising and marketing, the internet has made it so much easier and convenient to promote services and products. This is one reason why so many people are trying to become influencers.
Let us take a look at examples of social media marketing:
1. Cross-Channel Marketing
With over 600,000 Instagram followers, Xiaxue (aka Wendy Cheng) made used of this platform to shift her followers' attention to her own Youtube channel. This way, whenever she uploads a new video, even people who are not following her channel on Youtube can be directed through her Instagram. This helps her generate more product awareness.
2. Using hashtags
Everyone in today's generation just loves credit and attention, which gives an advantage to @theeverygirl. On their profile, @theeverygirl encourages customers to use a hashtag to be featured. They make customers get the fame they want, and at the same time The Everygirl uses them as free advertisements. While giving existing customers some fame, they are also attracting more customers, which increases profit.
3. Celebrity Endorsement
According to MediaKix, Beyoncé is the most paid celebrity on Instagram. As she is a singer, song-writer and even an actress, she has more than 141 million followers on Instagram. For every post she endorsed, she is being paid $1 million! When a company endorses her, they are not only generating awareness for their brand but also the image which Beyoncé portrays.
Users by age on Social Media Platforms
Based on a study done by Statista, in 2019, 33% of users range between 25-34 years old on social media platforms. This might be because that is the generation which transited from basic internet usage to Web 2.0. Being in the transition stage, this gave them the opportunity to be most tech-savvy on social media platforms.
Have you learnt anything from this blogpost? I sure hope you did!
What are your views based on my post?
Leave your comments below!
References:
@Sharlene Lai Thank you! Yes, hashtags are one way a business can make use of to promote themselves. On instagram, moderately popular hashtags will keep your content active for hours into days with more non-followers. On the other hand, existing followers will engage when they view content when they log on to instagram :)
@Elizabeth Lee Thanks! People might be influenced due to people who are famous. If these wealthy drug addicted to drugs and share their views and videos on the web, it might have power to influence others.
Very well-thought through blog post! I would also like to know more about the disadvantages of social media especially with the glamorizing of drugs and alcohol.
I didn't know the highest number of users were ranged from age 25-34! Thanks for the information. In your opinion, do you think using hashtags are really an effective method to promote company's products?
@ Jeremy Nah it makes me happy hearing that!
An example of poor social media marketing would be when new business just start up, they may think that any advertisement will give them publicity. But firstly, it is important for the company to know how traditional marketing differs from social media marketing. With better understanding, they will be able to go directly to what they need, instead of wasting their time and money creating advertisements that may not work.
I have a better understanding of social media marketing now. Although you have included a few social media marketing examples, could you tell me one poor social media marketing example ?