Online Marketing Inside Out

Chapter 5 Social Media

The Internet has been a place for socializing since the early days of newsgroups and Bulletin Board Systems, AOL chat rooms, and the first online forums. But in the last few years, social web sites have sprung up that let us connect with more people and share more than ever before. As socializing in cyberspace meshes with real life—through notifications and updates to our cell phones and the ability to upload and post content on the go—more and more people will connect with friends, family, and colleagues over the Internet.

But the social web is more than just about talking to friends and family—it's a powerful marketplace where word of mouth can make or break products and companies. Unlike the marketplaces you’re ...