Social Media and Your Hub
Posted by Theresa Peterson on Mon, Jan 24, 2011
As of late I've experienced more and more use of social media with friends, colleagues, and customers. Obviously working for a Web company gives me more of an opportunity to experience the craze that has taken place within the last 2-3 years. But unless you really step back and use these tools, you don't realize what is available at your finger tips. At NetSolutions we like to think of a social media presence as spokes that feed back to your Web site, or your hub.
Since I’ve been introduced to the Internet and started learning web development while optimizing sites for search engines, everything has changed. The number of people around the globe on the World Wide Web has exploded in the past couple years. This is simply because the technology is more accessible and the people born when the Internet was getting started are now adults; they have grown up with this.
When I started about 10 years ago, the focus was on a single website, It was about your website and getting clients to it. This was your presence on the Internet. While this is still step one for any business or organization, it is just that – the first step. To really get a presence on the web, to get known and do a good job with search engine marketing, it is social media that gets you there by being able to reach out in a personal way via the social tools like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.
What is the definition of social media? Wikipedia defines it as “media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques”. I've heard it said that social media is V.I.T.A.L: Video, Images, Text, Audio and Links.
I've learned in my time that logic causes us to think, but emotions make us act. When you're able to compliment someone, show sincere interest, and simply make a touch on social media, you're creating an emotional reaction that goes far beyond a script on a web page.
Take some time to understand the tools (or spokes). Do what I do and have fun. Nobody knows everything about social media yet. However, if you take a step and set-up or enhance a profile on LinkedIn or Facebook in 2011, you'll find great rewards and connections that will do more for you than you thought. Here is a thought -- simply sign-up for LinkedIn Tips from a social media expert like Wayne Breitbarth.
If you're really curious, talk to us about how we can help your business with a social media strategy. It is time to reach out beyond your web site.
Let me know how social media has benefited you and how you've used your "spokes."