Social Media are primarily Internet- and mobile-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. The term most often refers to activities that integrate technology, telecommunications and social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and "building" of shared meaning among communities, as people share their stories and experiences.
Social Media is distinctly different than legacy industrial media such as archetypical newspapers, television, radio and film.
An important fact about publishing online in a social media environment is that it is much less expensive than publishing in mainstream, industrial media. As Social Media is transforming the Internet, the Internet is transforming publishing.
Social Networking is the assembly, or coming together of individuals in specific groups or communities. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because the Internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users to develop friendships and business relationships.
Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics.
So, members make like-minded friends, and easily share ideas, information and visual content.
A “Blog” is a contraction of the term Web Log. A blog implies regular entries and frequent updates usually focused on a singular subject. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web Pages and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.
It is true that young people who grew up with computers and the Internet pick up the trends and new ways of communication faster and easier than older folks who grew up in a world of snail mail, wired telephones, telegrams, radio and network television.
However, recent trends indicate seniors, people 50 or older, are finding online networking sites to be just as productive, if not more engaging, than traditional methods.
For one thing, seniors want the same features the youngsters enjoy: the ability to hook up with old friends and make new ones, sharing their photos and music, and blogging their thoughts and ideas. Communities such as Eons, Multiply, Boomj and tbd are thriving. Especially since the boomer generation, though socially motivated, are often made to feel uncomfortable on sites such as Facebook and MySpace.
The best way an individual can protect his or her private information is to carefully adjust available privacy controls to the precise preferences desired. Secondly, the developing code that makes up the backbone and functionality of every community has built-in, anti-hacking safety mechanisms to protect users’ content. Perhaps most important, every community member should actively protect his or her email/password information, and consider changing the password frequently.
Robust, frequent commenting in every area of the community is a sure indication of a site’s popularity. Obviously, in the section where new members’ icons are displayed (usually right rail), if there are people joining at a fast clip, that means the community is attracting attention.
Another key indicator is the level of activity in Forum topics, along with the variety and frequency of Group and Event creation.
Old, stale blog entries are a prominent signal that interest in a community is waning. If content-sharing on a site is not occurring at a robust level, then members will soon become disenchanted...visits and page views will drop off soon thereafter. It is well documented that Internet audiences tend to be fickle; the result is a fading community if content does not reflect a true, dynamic engagement.
It’s not at all difficult. One of the benefits of implementing a virtual community directly into your existing website is that user-generated content can provide your site with fresh information all the time, which actually reduces the time spent updating your site. Also, choosing a provider of social media that has the ability to build, host and support your community is extremely important. Look for a community that comes from a company with a strong history of supporting successful implementations.
First and foremost, the most important attribute of any community is a unique and compelling identity. Your community should be tailored specifically to reflect your organization’s brand characteristics and long-term goals. In addition, a custom community is an excellent way of connecting with existing and potential customers.
A full-featured, branded online community lets you deploy a precise range of networking tools and gives you total control over membership permissions and activity. As your membership grows, a custom community will be scalable, allowing you to meet the challenges of growth and the evolution of your organization’s objectives.
The term "Web 2.0" describes the changing trends in the use of Internet technology and design that aim to enhance creativity, communications, secure information sharing, collaboration and functionality on the Web.
Web 2.0 also connotes the enhanced interconnectivity and interactivity of content on the Internet. In business terms, Web 2.0 reflects a movement toward leveraging the evolving strengths of the Internet, including its use as a flexible platform.
Like the Internet itself, the Web 2.0 concept is an ever-evolving entity. Technologies, techniques, platforms and products are constantly changing as are the opinions about them.
Tim O’Reilly of O’Reilly Media is credited with coining the term Web 2.0 by labeling a 2004 technology conference, “O’Reilly Media Web 2.0 Conference.” Although the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to any technical specifications, but rather to changes in the ways software developers and end-users utilize the Web.
For starters, the man-hour costs of developing a fully integrated, reliably functioning social media platform are enormous. Building a community is a complex enterprise, an endeavor that requires a team of highly experienced technicians.
Companies that have the capability of constructing and deploying social media communities in a matter of weeks have generally spent years developing the multiple skills and in-depth expertise demanded of the process. The costs of creating templates, developing code, designing interfaces, Q&A testing, deploying and administering communities are staggering.
Perhaps most important, when technical issues pop up (and they always do), having a reliable group of professionals to address them is vital. Unless your organization has in-house specialists across a broad range of Web engineering expertise, your site might experience downtime when you least expect or desire it. Members of a community tend to be less than tolerant of lapses in site functionality—whatever the cause may be.
