Companies Leveraging Social Media
The movie The Social Network was one of the most popular and most critically acclaimed films of 2010. By focusing on the origins of the largest social network, it reminded audiences of how a simple website can embed itself in the lives of millions of people in hundreds of countries. What it didn’t cover was that this network, as well as dozens of other social media sites, can be used not just by individuals to socialize, but by businesses as a way to reach out to customers and potential customers.
Facebook itself recognized this potential fairly early on. It allows companies to make an official Facebook page where they can share news, media, and links with their customers. It also provides a forum for those customers to comment, ask questions, and engage directly with corporate representatives. By being accessible and engaged, many companies are able to turn interested people into loyal customers and even brand advocates.
Facebook is far from the only social site that encourages participation by businesses. Some sites are designed especially for business networking rather than social interactions. This is why it is important for companies, no matter how small, to have a current and accurate Linkin profile as well as profiles on other social business sites. They should also ensure that all their officers and employees have profiles that link to the company profile and official company website.
There are numerous other ways that companies can leverage social media to improve their online footprint. They can post how-to videos on YouTube, upload podcasts and webcasts to various sites, and even put their latest industry presentations on a slideshow site. Photo sharing sites, microblogging platforms, and a variety of industry-related blogs and forums also provide countless opportunities for companies to interact with a huge consumer audience.