Social Media and Web 2.0 are terms that refer to new web based technologies that are changing the way businesses interact with their customer base.
You may have heard the phrase "Web 2.0" or Social Media. These are next-generation technologies that allow businesses and individuals communicate with one another in a way that no one could have ever imagined when the web first came about.
There are many forms of Social Media technologies and each operates differently in how it works. At Jacky Digital we can work with you to help you understand how each of these media works, and how to use them effectively. Not all forms of media are appropirate for every business, and there are important protocols to think about before "jumping in". Below is a brief description of how each of the more popular media works.
Twitter
Twitter is a micro blogging service that allows someone to post a small message. This message is then "pushed" to recipients who have elected to "follow" your messages. It goes to their cell phone in the form of a text message, or to an email address, and you can even publish your "Tweets" on your own website. Anyone can signup to follow your Tweets, and you can use Twitter to communicate critital information, or even just what you are doing at the moment in time. At Jacky Digital, we strongly recommend sitting down with us to determine the best strategy for using this technology, as there are growing examples of companies and individuals who use Twitter in a manner that can end up losing them businesses and in some cases friends.
Why is Twitter important? Well, for one, it allows you to directly communicate with your customer base. One of our clients operates a very successful yarn businesses. We use Twitter to communicate any yarn specials directly to customers. Knowing the general business principal that it is much easier to sell to customers that you already have, than it is to find new customers, Twitter is a fantastic way to make "loyalty" based offers to an existing client base. The added benefit of Twitter is that your "followers - followers" are able to see that your customer is following your Tweets, and they can easy join in and follow you. Think of it as a very viral "word of mouth" campaign.
You can "follow" our Tweets by going to http://www.twitter.com/jackydigital. We will be tweeting a few times per month!
Facebook
Facebook has developed a phenomenon that has really changed the way we communicate with friends/family/customers in a fundemental way. Like Twitter, Facebook operates in a viral manner, friends can see what friends are up to, and those friends can become friends of friends. In the case of your business, you create a "Page", and send out invitations to your existing email database. Any of your clients who are on Facebook will be able to "join" your "page and become "fans". A notice is added to their page that says "Bob has become a fan of Joe's Steak House". Bob's friends see that Bob is a fan, and they join as well. This is how it begins. Once you have a "fan base", you have a ready made database of customers to communicate directly with!
If this all seems a bit overwhelming, don't worry, contact Jacky Digital and we can help you navigate these waters!
Google Friend Connect
Google Friend Connect is Google's technology that allows you to place Facebook-like elements within your own webpage. They provide various widgets that are a way to provide a community like atmosphere within your own website. We have a demonstration of it at www.jackydigital.com/googlefriendconnect If you are interested in using this technology, we can assist with setup and implementation.
Ning
Ning is a popular closed environment social networking site. While not quite self contained, it can be setup as a seperate universe and is great for clubs, or organizations that are seeking to create a community space of their own. Ning can be setup to be invite only which can help keep your universe uncluttered. We run the Ning site for the Camera Club of Eagle. We can help setup and create your own social networking site! |
