Future of Social Media

Social media is here to stay. But what does the future hold? Google+ is the newest name in the social media game, but Twitter and Facebook are still the ones to beat. One of the benefits of social media is the easy going attitude and mentality.

Social Media Changes the Game

While many small (and large) businesses have pages advertising their business, popular sites like Facebook don't advocate businesses being on their social media site. Facebook doesn't monitor their site, so these businesses aren't banned. But Facebook recognizes the marketing power of social media sites and is developing Facebook for Business. Businesses will have a dedicated site where social media users can search the listings.

Google+ has entered into the social media game, as well. Google's answer to industry leader Facebook, Google+ is still in trial mode but shows great promise. Google has taken all of the problems Facebook has and attempted to solve them, making the social media site more intuitive and easier to navigate. Google+ also prefers businesses not create a profile just yet. It plans to launch a business-specific social media site soon.

Social Media Popular with Younger Generations

For those younger generations who have never known a phone that only makes phone calls, social media is a way of life. Many twentysomethings depend on social media sites to research potential companies and product reviews before deciding to buy. Also, younger generations are more likely to show brand affiliation through social media sites, "friending" or "liking" a particular company's Facebook page. Also, social media also encourages interaction with customers by allowing comments to posts and blogs. This type of advertising creates stronger feelings of identification and loyalty because customers believe the comments they leave are being read by someone at the company.

Social Media's Impact on Business

While social media may spark controversy in the personal realm, its impact is wide-reaching in the professional realm. There are social media sites like LinkedIn strictly for professional contacts, which is another way of networking and perhaps finding your next job. Advertisers and marketers gain another way to peddle products and entice us to buy.

While social media is the next big thing, it will be a major player in the business world for decades to come. Younger people consider social media an essential part of daily life, and as those young people continue to enter the workforce, they will propel social media usage far beyond its limits. The question is not if social media can do more, nor is it a question of when. The only real unknown is how; how is social media going to evolve as more and more businesses and professionals jump into these sites with both feet.