There really is no catch when it comes to businesses using social networking sites to market their products. I found an article that discusses how businesses use free social media sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogs to generate business. They use these social networking sites for four aspects: spreading the word, getting friends, fans, and new business, marketing and communication. These four aspects prove to not only generate new business, but ultimately help a company create successful products.
Spreading the word is the use of these social networking sites to inform potential customers of their company and products. Through these sites they can give detailed information about the product and even provide pictures. They can also give information about their company and employees, once again providing pictures to give interested consumers the comforting idea of putting a face to a product or company.
Businesses use social networking sites to get friends, fans, and new businesses by providing a way for people to connect with their company and product. On Facebook people will have the option to “friend request” the company, or “like” their product. On Twitter you can follow the company to get updates on products and offers. This is getting people involved because once businesses secure a “friendship” or “follower” on these sites, they can then send out more information about their company and product. Through the excess information people are getting, they will be more willing or interested to try a product, thus buying it. The article used the phrase “ripple-effect” to describe how getting fans and friends will result in new business.
Another way businesses benefit from the use of social networking sites is through marketing. Companies can create Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter pages for their products. Since social networking sites are free of charge, companies get to market and advertise their product completely free. Another way companies can use social networking sites to market their products is placing ads on the homepage of sites like Facebook. This way however is not free. The company would have to pay for their ad to appear when Facebook users are checking their page.
The fourth way a business uses social networking sites is communication. People can “like” a Facebook page and comment on the “wall” giving their personal input and opinion on the product. This gives the company feedback so they can alter and edit both their product and page to satisfy customers’ needs and demands. Communication is the key for a successful anything in our society; relationships, businesses, education, and so on. Through using social networking sites, businesses are providing open, easy, and free communication for their customers. They can directly talk with them, which is a huge advantage for a business.
I think businesses’ idea to use social networking sites is genius. It is literally free marketing that allows for feedback and the actual liking of a product on Facebook. Ellen Degeneres tweeted about a flash mob here at Towson. She said everyone needed to dress in a tiger costume and go to the West Village campus. Although it was raining, thousands of students rushed over to the west side of campus with the hopes of being her TV show. This is an example of how Ellen Degeneres used a social networking site to promote not only her show, but Towson University too. The amount of people that responded and how quickly they did was amazing. This goes to show how social networking sites are paving the way for a new kind of marketing.
laurendalzell 