When people talk about a new song or a new gadget or a new movie that has just come out and how nice and interesting it is, how useful it can be and so on. It eventually becomes overrated, just like the Avatar movie. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice movie but I just feel it was overrated. This is also the same for the online social media. The hype about how business can only survive and make profit only by using the online social media has become overrated. Yes its true millions of people visit these social sites but why do they visit it? Just to keep in touch with their family and friends around the world.
It is also true that technology has evolved and the world is becoming a global market making the way businesses are done different. It is the right thing for businesses to keep abreast of the changes in their environment but this must be done with foresight. Lots of companies just follow the trend without looking at the pros and cons of taking such a step and putting into consideration how beneficial is this to my company.
I see the social media network as a place for having conversations and interactions with my friends, catching up with people. That’s the main reason for having social network, so why do companies want to have an online social media element? It is necessary for companies to have an online presence but adding themselves to the social light is unnecessary. I would not go on Facebook or MySpace or Twitter just to chat with Dell, or CNN or any other company. If I had a comment or suggestion or complaint, the first place that I would think about is going on their website to do so.
In addition, I feel the social media should be left in the circle of entertainment. The social media is a place for sharing personal thought, music, movies and I feel it should be kept that way. Companies like BET, iTunes, E! News, MTV etc. should be the one in the social media not Burger king or Starbucks, who cover themselves under the shadow of “how can we serve you better?
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In conclusion, I believe the online social media element is not meant for all companies and it’s not a criterion for success in business. Thinking about it, the hype might just have started with the social networks as a means to earn some more profit because I definitely do not go to social sites for business.
http://biggsuccess.com/2010/05/24/the-one-location-on-the-web-that-matters-most/
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ReplyDeleteThere are many intelligent people out there who use the internet to their advantage. Many years ago if you wanted to speak with your friends you had to call them on the telephone and pay long distance telephone charges. If you wanted to write a long letter, it had to be typed or handwritten, on paper, and put into an envelope and stamped. These days are long over. Just as Damilola stated all of these people now utilize social media for free. By doing so, they never have to buy a stamp again or pay long distance telephone charges. One of the greatest examples of saving money through online social media is the advent of instant messaging (IM). Sites like http://www.google.com/talk/ and http://messenger.yahoo.com/ enable users to chat, send instant messages, and have webcam video calls all for free. I believe the point Damilola is trying to make is that online social media has become a phenomenal cost-cutter to the average consumer. I couldn’t disagree with that statement at all. Alternatively, because of this phenomenal level of attraction, companies couldn’t lose out by attempting to make all of these intelligent cost savers into customers. Due to the fact that these consumers are not watching television or reading a magazine, they could only be communicated with via online social media. Similar to the 1980s telemarketing ethos, every name in the telephone book is a potential customer; in 2010 every person that has a public profile on a social networking site is a potential customer too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Andrew. Using online social media is a great cost cutter for most of these firms. It may save them the cost of putting an advertisement out on the television that people hardly have the time to sit an watch these days, or in a newspaper which people hardly even read according to statistics (http://www.naa.org/TrendsandNumbers/Readership.aspx). Besides, it is a great way for them to megaconnect at a cheaper rate.
ReplyDeleteI understand what Damilola is saying when she talks about people not goin to social sites to do business but sometimes they are not trying to get you to do business but simply for the brand to be seen and remembered. For example, when I go to my facebook account, I do not go with the intention to buy from any firm who might be advertising on my page. However, some ads are continuously popping up and I remember them. This may influence my purchasing from them one day or informing someone about the brand because I see it all the time. For example, DeVry University is always advertised on my facebook page in the corner. I do not intend to ever apply to DeVry, but one time my friend was looking for an online degree and the first school that came to my mind was DeVry. So I think it is just another way to promote brands. Because if I am on facebook everyday and I see these ads at least twice a week, it will automatically be installed in my brain.
I also agree that there are some businesses that should not attempt to go into online social media at all because it could hurt their business rather than help. Like the example Ana gave about the school who contacted potential students through facebook to ancourage enrollemnt. That can be seen as harassment by these students na dmay turn the students away rather than encourage them. It also comes across as lack of professionalism nad desperation for some of these firms to use online social media. Imagine what would you think if a private doctor had a page up on facebook talking about his business. Would you be inclined to go visit this doctor? I sure wouldnt because he would come across as he is desperate to get patients.
Like Damilola said, some businesses have to really think about their aims and intentions when they consider getting involved in online social media. They should consider if or how it is going to benefit their businees and if the benefits outwiegh the costs.
The evolution of the social network in terms of volume and customization is a key driver for companies being visible and interacting with customers and consumers. Social networks are communities segmented by types of users (i.e. Youtube and Linkedin don't have much in common in terms of users).
ReplyDeleteThe thing is social networks have become very valuable for companies. They can keep their market (meaning customers, consumers, potential customers) with exciting news, new product launches. I would say that Starbucks is a perfect company to be in a social network since a lot of people are devoted to the brand...these kind of initiatives (well implemented) can attract more customers, build brand loyalty and for consumers devoted to facebook it's nice seeing a company to be there....