Writting For Social Media

Over the last few years the vast majority of Americans have willingly turned into followers.  Our lives have been consumed with hashtags, and follow me @ has seemingly become the new goodbye.  Social Media has officially taken over our lives.  I finally gave into to this realization when I was watching a NCAA Men's Basketball game on CBS. Every time they showed a players name or stats, they also showed their twitter name.      Even companies have turned to twitter for marketing purposes.  The need for Social Media writing and image management is at an all-time high.  

Companies can do so much with Social Media. The control or the manipulation of social media can be beneficial to companies in a number of different ways.  Companies are using things Social Media to connect with there consumers in a more direct and personal way.  Instead of searching the Sunday papers for coupons, companies have made it possible for you to receive coupons and sales alerts instantly by liking their page on Facebook or Twitter.  This not only creates more of a personal connection between the company and the consumer, it also makes others want to join so they can receive the special benefits also.  

Companies also use Social Media for advertising purposes also.  Once you like a companies page or follow them on twitter your page becomes flooded with advertising and shameless plugs.  There's a saying in the entertainment business that goes "there's no such thing as bad publicity" and the same thing goes for advertising.  As long as companies can be seen consistently on your news feed they feel like they have won.  If Pepsi keeps you thinking and seeing Pepsi eventually you're going to go out and buy a Pepsi whether it be consciously or subconsciously.  Companies also use advertising through Social Media to build anticipation for new products also.  Apple has been promoting the iPhone 5 for a year now and it still hasn't came out.  Every time a new feature or idea is added Apple puts a video or link as its status.  Companies also get to receive feedback from there consumer's faster than ever.  Since Facebook and Twitter allow you to tag, comment and re-tweet, companies know instantly what their consumers think of them and their products.

Companies also have the enormous task of managing their image on line.  It is important for companies to put out a positive image of their company and be both inviting and inclusive to their consumers.   Companies should post things like donating money and community involvement.  A company is only as good as its brands name.  A company is only as good as its 1st impression when your hear that name.  If a company can affect its public image in any way form or fashion they have to do so, and social Media allows them to do just that.