Technology & Social Media–What is Next?

Social Media platforms, Twitter and Facebook have become the dominant forces in the digital age. But, without new additions to the platforms, they can get old. Sure there is YouTube, that allows you to upload and share full videos, but that too is has potential to become outdated.
 
So what’s next?
 
Instagram is a newer app that’s available. It features hashtag searching and gives users the ability to upload, tag and share their pictures instantly. Along the same lines, is the Tumblr app – another image sharing platform. Both apps let you share your pictures through any social media route and both are incredibly popular to users and companies looking to market their product. Start searching Tumblr hashtags here.
 
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what does a 6 second video clip amount to? In the world of social media, it is priceless. Following in the footsteps of Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr, Vine is the next big thing.
 
Produced by Twitter, Vine allows users to share a 6 second video. More than just a picture, the small videos are perfect for mobile viewing and it is easy enough to use that it can become quite addicting – everything that a marketer would want in a new advertising platform! Following the hashtags made popular by Twitter and Instagram, you can still search through Vine very easily. You can film anything you want, add a hashtag and post it for everyone’s enjoyment. You can find out more about the Vine app from the blog at Microsoft .
 
Brands, sports teams, and even your Aunt Frannie are sure to soon be on the Vine bandwagon. Given enough time, Vine is sure to go head-to-head with Instagram for popularity!
 
As with any social media outlet, picture and video sharing platforms can either be a really great marketing tool or can be a fun waste of time. Usually, the two go hand-in-hand.
 
Download the Vine app, Instagram, or Tumblr, to create and share your pictures and videos with your Twitter or Facebook account.

The Power of Social Media for Business Owners

 

It is no surprise that social media is a bit of an overwhelming topic for new business owners. This is because it is such a broad topic. It is also a very powerful tool for Internet marketing and research. The reason it is so overwhelming for new business owners is because there are so many things to consider. A business owner must think about text messages, emails, blogs, social media websites, QR codes, and mobile applications. The more areas of social media a business owner is able to incorporate into the advertising of their business, the more they are going to benefit in the long run.
 
Interestingly enough, most people see QR codes every single day…even if they do not know what they are. This is especially true for individuals who own a smartphone. The term QR code is an abbreviation for the phrase “quick response code.” It is a two dimensional barcode that was first design to be used by the automotive industry. They are codes that contain information that can be read by a device containing a QR code reader. An individual with a smartphone or computer tablet are able to read QR codes. Most companies will use QR codes as a way to give something free to their customers. The only downside is that individuals without a QR code reader device are not going to be able to access the contents inside of the QR code. It is a great advertising method, but it is not enough for companies who are looking to market to customers with and without smart phones. There is nothing wrong with using QR codes, but just using QR codes is really going to limit the customer base.
 
Unfortunately, the same is true when companies use mobile applications as a form of advertisements. For individuals who do not have a computer tablet or a smart phone, they are never going to see the advertisements embedded into these mobile applications. Fortunately, most Americans are moving to smartphones and within a few years the majority of adults will be using them.
 
 
Sources:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Social-Media-And-QR-Codes---What-You-Need-To-Know-Now&id=5464090
http://ezinearticles.com/?QR-Codes-and-Social-Media&id=6372388
http://ezinearticles.com/?Social-Media-Mobile-Devices-and-Applications&id=6098902

Viral Videos and Marketing

Viral Marketing is defined as a phenomenon that influences consumers to spread a company’s message to others. Many companies have caught on to the fact that this type of marketing is one of the most effective ways to advertise their brand.

Right now speakers such as Jonah Peretti, the co-founder of BuzzFeed, are discussing the idea of virtual marketing at conventions like the SXSW. In addition, Francine Hardaway, the co-founder of Stealthmode Partners, has written on her blog about the phenomenon that is viral marketing.

When a video on a website goes viral via social media sites, statistics prove that the video is seen by 34 times as many people as it would have been had it only been on its original website. 

Companies that engage in viral marketing have seen mixed results. It has been a great asset for some companies and a headache for others. One company that successfully used viral marketing is BlendTec, a company that manufactures home appliances considered high-end. They released a series of viral videos that entertained people and sold them on purchasing their products. One company that did not have good luck with viral marketing is Agency.com. They produced a viral video explaining the process of creating this type of video to recruit clients. The responses they got on YouTube were overwhelmingly negative.

In the event that a company’s viral message ends up backfiring with the public, most companies scramble to placate people by creating a new, more favorable message. When a viral message does well, the company keeps using it for as long as they can and will try to then come up with a similar message.

While many companies are prepared to engage in viral marketing, others are not. This type of marketing can be risky if carried out ineffectively.
 
 
Sources
http://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/viral_marketing/
http://www.fastcompany.com/3007481/how-buzzfeed-makes-everything-go-viral
http://www.firstpagefitness.com/viral-video-marketing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/