Understand social media
The phrase “social media” leaves some people stumped. Part of the confusion regarding the term is due to the fact that, in previous years, the term had been used differently than it is today.
Today’s social media simply means grouping people into a specific group. The term used to be limited to face-to-face meetings, but this is no longer the case.
What has caused this change to occur? In short: the Internet. Thanks to the Internet, we have the ability to network without having to be together in person in real time. We can meet virtually and interact that way. Social media is a major component of internet traffic and is the fourth most popular activity people engage in online. Putting this in perspective, the third most popular activity is using email. Social media is used for all kinds of purposes online, from finding a romantic partner to reconnecting with old friends and finding job opportunities.
Some social networking sites are more popular with professionals than others. Most professionals agree that Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are appropriate for online networking.
According to research, online social media can contribute to recruiting, sales, and marketing for businesses.
One of the most important and influential professional networking sites is LinkedIn. LinkedIn was started in 2002 and launched a year later. To date, it has more than 50 million users spread over more than 200 countries and territories.
Facebook handles even more user volume. There are more than 150 registered users with Facebook accounts; about half of these users visit the site on a daily basis. Facebook users can be found in more than 170 countries and territories, and users post to the site in more than 35 languages. Also, the site is becoming increasingly popular with professionals. Facebook usage by US users over 35 has doubled in recent months.
Twitter still lags behind these other two in terms of numbers, with 4.1 million monthly users. However, research shows that Twitter users are more tech-savvy than users of other networking sites. Twitter also attracts a more educated user population and more women.