Social Media Channels Introduction

Nowadays, information consumes our daily lives. The rise of social media channels and technology made this possible.  Agree with it or not, social media platforms are taking over. It has gone from being the latest communication trend to being some of the largest forms of media. Social media channels are not only used as a way to be connected, it is now way, way more.

The most amazing part is, we haven’t even seen the peak of social media’s popularity yet. These days, most people rely on these platforms for news and information not just about friends and family, but also for current events. 

For organizations, social media channels are currently the most ideal approach to associate with clients. In social media, there are no local and social boundaries. You can reach a worldwide audience. Billions of people to market to.

Because of this, there is an unlimited number of possibilities for marketing. In the next few articles, we will go through social media channels. Talk about the difference between social networking, learn about content sharing, and finally, talk about aggregation and location. We will also go through the powerful role social media channels can play in the marketing process.

Social Media Channels

In various manners, web-based media is the embodiment of what the internet is about. It is tied in with working together and sharing substance. It is tied in with spreading, sharing thoughts and data.

Indeed, it is a direct result of social media that there is a blast of substance on the web.This is because everyone with an internet connection can make and share content without any problem. Most of all, sharing content online is free.

Social media is very dynamic. It has a great deal of members from anywhere in the world. To lay it out plainly, social media are forms of media that are intended to be shared. It means that there is easier access to comments. Which makes it easy to send and duplicate the media. It also means that it is free. There’s no expensive fees to cover. 

Here’s the best part for marketers: all of these data are trackable and measurable.

In most cases, social media channels are referred to as the Web 2.0. Other nicknames include citizen media, consumer-generated media, and new media. Let’s look at traditional media and social media to find out the differences and what they mean.

Traditional Media vs. Social Media

• Traditional media is fixed and unchangeable. On the other hand, social media can be updated instantly!
• In traditional media, the commentary is limited. It is also not real-time. On the other hand, there is unlimited real-time commentary on social media.
• The bestseller lists on traditional media are limited and mostly time-delayed. If you look over at social media, there is an instant gauge in popularity.
• When it comes to traditional media, the archives are poorly accessible. However, there is easy access to archives in social media channels.
• Traditional media offer a limited media mix. But on social media, you can mix all forms of media.
• Traditionally media are composed of committee publishes while individual publishers control the social media space.
• Traditional media is finite, we hate to say it, but it is. While social media is infinite; as we said, unlimited possibilities.
• Traditional type of media does not support sharing. On the other hand, sharing and participation is what makes social media channels go around.
• There is complete control in traditional media, while you can get complete freedom in social media,

Nowadays, it is easier and much simpler for anyone to publish and distribute media. Because of the web and the product created to run on it, we would all be able to be distributors. On the other end, we can all get quick access to instantly published data and media.

The social media realm is all about collaborating with each other. It is about creating valuable content. It’s about sharing info and data. Most of all, connecting is the purpose of social media. The next series of articles will focus on the different social media channels and how to use those channels in a strategic manner.

Key Takeaways:

We will also go through the four main social media channels. But we will not stop there, we will also look at the large variety of platforms that are categorized under these four channels. 

We will also learn how you can track and measure your success in SMM or social media marketing. Lastly, we will go through the best ways to encourage engagement with your audience in this form of media.

Key Terms and Concepts for Social Media Channels

Listed below are some of the terms you will read and hear about for the next few articles. 

• Social Network – online, this refers to a type of website or platform where singular individuals are a piece of a more extensive virtual network. We all know about social media networks.
• Blog – this is the kind of site that permits bloggers to post passages on various points. Users can comment on these posts.
• Chiclets – these are little symbols found on a blog entry, an article on the web, a video, or a site page to demonstrate the accessibility of an RSS channel. You see and utilize these symbols when you need to share data to web-based media
• Microblogging – this is the act of distributing brief content, picture, and videos. Similar to a Tweet!
• Blogosphere – alludes to the universe of websites, bloggers, and blog entries.
• Trackback – this alludes to the component utilized in a blog that shows a rundown of passages in different online journals that allude to a post on the blog.
• Bookmarking – this refers to the act of saving a web address so you can easily go back to it later. Browsers and different apps have made it easier to save bookmarks.
• Crowdsourcing – means an open call for a job that is usually for  professionals. However, in an open call, it is open to everyone.
• Engagement – this refers to the number of comments, shares, likes, on a post.
• Forum – this refers to a website or an online group where users can talk and engage. 

© Image credits to Evie Shaffer