There is no argument that Social Media is the new fandango, but what does it offer over the more traditional forms of Industrial Media.
What is Industrial Media?
Newspaper, Television, & Magazines are some of the more popular forms of industrial media. Traditionally they derived support from advertisers, but over the last few years the landscaped has been shifting dramatically. Industrial media still enjoys a small percentage of support, but the platform of industrial media is giving way to the more economical realm of Social Media. If you need to run an obituary, or the more mandatory forms of business related adds like “DBA “Doing Business As” adds, or Municipal public announcements…then Industrial Media enjoys this space. There are; however, more effective, efficient, and greener forms of obtaining news and information, and it’s called Social Media.
What Is Social Media?
Industrial Media has its place, but Social Media is extremely valuable and infinitely more dynamic and unique than industrial media. Social Media is largely delivered via various forms of electronic technology like: Phones, Computers, Websites, groups, and forums, for example. It’s greener, faster, and more efficient, and most importantly…it’s dynamic. The reason it’s more dynamic is because social media seeks to deliver content that’s relevant only to the reader, not the masses. That’s huge, because if the individual doesn’t have an interest in sports for example… then he or she would not need to read information related to sports.
Social Media is not to be confused with social networking. I will provide more information on Social Networking later.
Consider that Social Media content can be acquired in real time so news and updates are cast almost instantly. On the other hand, it may take days, weeks, or even months for content to appear in the space of industrial media. Perhaps the largest advantage from a participants point of view is that Social Media requires very little expertise, knowledge, skill or money.
The Situation:
Paid publications are struggling because we have firmly entered the information age, and information is the most pervasive aspect of the World Wide Web.
The Problem:
Industrial Media fights the loss by challenging Social Media
If information is free, the question then becomes why would anyone agree to pay, and why would advertisers cast their add dollars at failing forms of Industrial Media?
The Implication: Fighting Social Media is wrought with futility
The Payoff:
Certain forms of Industrial may survive and even thrive if individuals and organizations around Industrial Media can quickly adapt to this technological revolution taking place, but they will need to move swiftly. There are strong examples where Industrial Media is embracing social media. Most international News agency provides audio and video as web cast. The result is that many buyers and sellers meet in “The New Common Place” of Social Media.
It’s a story that can offer hope to millions of Americans struggling with unemployment, and to working Americans everywhere who fear losing their jobs in this economy.
Forrest Graves was an executive for a major corporation when he was laid off last Christmas. He has a wife and two daughters to support.
Forrest made a choice: to turn unemployment into an opportunity. He chased his career dream.
Thanks in no small part to the ways he harnessed free tools on the Internet, Forrest made it work.
Here’s how he turned a $600 investment into a growing business with clients around the world.
Why should you social network?
Let me try and put social networking into perspective for you:
At this writing there are more than 200 million active users on Facebook, and it is the fastest growing demographic is those 35 years old and older. Myspace enjoys 76 Million users, while Microsoft: Live, Hotmail, and Messenger enjoys more than 500 million users. The Twitter phenomenon has reached a staggering 752% growth and is appropriately tethered to mobile technology. It is in mobile technology where users utilize social media more than land based technology. I use many social media sites, but I use Linkedin because it is grounded in business. Linkedin has 36 million users and is adding 1.3 users per second.
To put it in perspective: I’m in the coffee business, and I get a lot of coffee out of Brazil. Brazil has a population of approximately 192 million. Facebook has a population of 200 million. My online Social Networking community trumps populations of countries. So why should you use Social Networking? The numbers are staggering, and they are growing. I fundamentally believe that social networking is one of the fastest and most efficient and cost effective means of communication.
Get your tweet on!
Join me on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Myspace, Social Networking,Youtube,Stumbleupon,Blogger.com,Jumpingoat.com/blog
I was recently asked to provide the best example I have found where money has been made from social networking.
This is part three of my blog series around social networking. You can subscribe to my blog at Http://www.JumpinGoat.com/blog It’s there you will find a delightfully appropriate mix of coffee and business.
Aside from Adsence, or Sponsorships, or using your network for marketing purposes I will provide one example from my industry, “coffee.”
As you would probably expect there are well over 1200 Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter profiles and groups with a devotion to coffee and teas. According to a recent article in a coffee trade publication by Rebecca Ragain, a well known coffee house made history by filling what was probably the first ever to-go-order placed by twitter. It was so successful; it was adopted as a regular service. Imagine folks on the back deck ordering coffee or refills without getting up. Maybe that’s just lazy, maybe it’s just smart business to provide such a service?
So there is your example.
I am interested in getting your direct e-mail about your experiences with monetizing social networks. What has worked for you?
Forrest Graves
Follow me on:
Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/in/forrestgraves
Facebook: JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters
Twitter: Twitter.com search, Jumpingoat
Myspace: jumpingoat.blogspot.com)
My Blog: http://www.jumpingoat.com/blog
