Social Media For Small Business

CHAPTER 2WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?

Social media is defined as ‘websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking’ according to the Oxford Dictionary.

Social media is a way for people to share ideas, thoughts and information, to network virtually, and to build communities. There are two key elements to social media that are important to understand: ‘social’ and ‘media’. Let's look at each of these.

Social

Social comes from the Latin word socius meaning ‘friend’.

Social media is a way for people to share ideas, thoughts and information, to network virtually, and to build communities.

A ‘social’ person is someone who enjoys being with others, seeking and enjoying the companionship of people. Social media is a way to connect with people and network virtually.

Most importantly, just like in ‘real life’ social interactions, social media is a two‐way street. You know the guy you meet at an event who just won't stop talking at you? You don't want to be that guy. To use social media as a business tool it's important to engage and interact with people rather than just talking at them. There has to be a balance between listening and sharing information.

And don't worry, even if you don't see yourself as a ‘social’ person, or if you are more of an introvert, you can still excel at using social media for your business. You might even find it easier to be social on your social networks than in real life.

And lastly, there must be ...