Connecting the Past to the Future: Social Media Delivers Transparency

Social media is defined as content created by people through the use of accessible and streamlined publishing technologies. Social media is just one more way to communicate your message, share information and content. On its own, it may not function as an effective marketing tool, but when used with other marketing tools, it can be very effective in connecting the past, present, and future of business and personal relationships.

In part, its soaring popularity is attributed to its endless accessibility. It allows people to connect online from all over the world to form relationships for both personal and business purposes.

Social media is also referred to as user-generated content or consumer-generated content. For instance, consumers can use social media to share information about a new product such as a vacuum cleaner. Perhaps, there is some negative banter about this vacuum's performance. The user, or business, can respond to these comments and work to resolve the situation online for all consumers to view. It brings a whole new level of transparency to customer service.

So, with social media everywhere... FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIN, etc. where does one begin?

Each social media has its strengths. FaceBook tends to be more of a personal network, but businesses can also benefit. It focuses on connecting people from the past. LinkedIN has a reputation for being the "professional" social media network and people who join have the chance to be "recommended" which improves their professional status within the network. This site focuses on connecting people in the present. Twitter limits content to 140 words per "tweet" and its mission is to connect people for future networking. It is heavy content based and is a great resource for information that may otherwise be difficult to locate through simple surfing.

Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Remember that social media is unique. It provides a new frame of reference - another way to communicate. Incorporate it with other marketing and networking strategies.

2. Develop a strategy. Who do you want to communicate with? What do you want to say? Set some goals.

3. Create good content. Content is king! Use words, photos and more to make your content informative and engaging. It will keep people coming back for more.

4. Make time to engage and to encourage feedback. You have to keep the lines of communication open.

5. Don't sell anything. Be members of the community. In order to get, you have to give!

6. Embrace the one-to-one that social media networking can offer. It can help to build important business and personal relationships.

7. Be authentic and transparent! Social media users are savvy. Openly share information and they will learn to trust you.

For more information, visit: http://www.writeawayplus.com

Bryan Sullivan is Executive Vice President of Write Away, Inc. -- a marketing and PR firm based in the mountains of Western North Carolina that focuses on content writing and effective marketing campaigns. He handles new sales and customer service support. For more information, visit:
http://www.writeawayplus.com