Social Media Networks
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Social Media Networks
There are dozens of types of social media networks active on the Web right now. And there are likely to be dozens more in the decades to come. Some social media networks are for general audiences, like Facebook and MySpace, whereas others are niche-specific, like CafeMom and GamerDNA. There are also social media networks for professionals, and some for kids ages 10-17. Social media networks also vary according to location; many countries have their own specific social media network that is more popular than import sites.
The most popular social media networking site, Facebook is open to general users age 13 and older. Users connect with "friends" and follow friends' news feeds, write posts and upload pictures and videos. Businesses are discouraged from creating a profile page but this is not enforced. However, Facebook is developing a version specifically for businesses.
The benefits of Facebook are its ease of use and popularity. Chances are, all the people you are looking for are on Facebook. However, Facebook has been accused of insufficient user security. Facebook isn't monitored, so children, pets, and businesses all have profiles. Facebook also recently implemented a way to limit which friends view which posts. This is a direct response to Google+.
Google+
Google + is Google's answer to Facebook. A brand new social media networking site, Google+ began in June 2011 and is still in the testing phase. But many features are already creating buzz among users. Google introduces "Circles", in which you can separate your friends and then determine which circles are allowed to view a post or pictures. This provides a better way to segregate friends and family from work associates and contacts without worrying about either group getting inappropriate information. The names given to a user's circles are private.
Google+ also has a +1 button that acts much like Facebook's "Like" button. Both functions allow users to identify a website or profile that they approve of and recommend. This information is then told to all of the users contacts (or in the case of Google+, only the contacts allowed to view the information).
Google+ also has Hang outs, which allow up to 10 users to communicate via web cams in a virtual hang out. Huddle allows users to communicate via instant messaging on smartphones.
Google+ is just a baby in the social media networking world, so there are still kinks to work out. And Google+ has already earned a reputation as a geek-world, whereas Facebook appeals to everyone, even less tech-savvy users.
Twitter is a microblogging service that consists of text-based posts called "tweets." Tweets are limited to 140 characters and are read by "followers", the people who subscribe to a person's (or company's) Twitter feed. Twitter is in the top ten most popular social media networking sites and is often mentioned in traditional newscasts and television shows.
Tweets are public, which means users have little control over who views the posted information, although users can restrict posts to just followers. Twitter is accessed through computers and smartphone apps. Compared to other social media networking sites, Twitter is remarkably simple.
For marketing purposes, Twitter is often used in conjunction with other social media networking sites. Twitter identifies search terms with a hash tag (#) which signals followers there is more information about that subject. Handles begin with a @ sign, and @mentions are when a Twitterer mentions someone by his or her handle.
