Social Media and SMO

Social media has taken a great leap forward in the recent years. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, My Space, Linkedin, Classmates, Orkut etc have become an integral part of our life.The concept of ‘tweets’ and ‘likes’ are being taught in management schools. In short, people have found a good friend in these so called social media websites. These websites are an effective medium for advertising and companies are using these sites to generate awareness about their brands and services.


What is Social Media?



Social Media and SMO
Social Media (Image source:- Flickr)

Social Media are a set of technologies that work as a platform for the user to share his or her thoughts in a more effective manner. Social Media integrates individuals, their friends, like minded communities together and provides them a space to share their views. Social media is not limited to one platform, it may use any platform to reach the audience. In essence, Social Media combines communication, text, images, videos together and presents it before the audience.

Social Media can be classified under the following categories:-

Social Networking 

Facebook   My Space   Orkut   Bebo   Linkedin  Google+  Hi5   Ibibo

Video Sharing 

Wiki

Blogging

Photo Sharing

Bookmarking

Document Sharing

Scribd   Docstoc   Googledoc   Divshare    Ziddu  Slideshare   Slideboom



Social Media Optimization

 SMO
stands for Social Media Optimization. These are a set of techniques
which increases your website’s presence in the social media websites. It
encourages people to spread the buzz about your company,brand,product
or services and makes it popular.



 Difference between Social Media and Social Networks

Social Media are a set of technologies that promotes the growth of social networks. On the other hand, social networks are groups or communities consisting of real world people who share a common view or passion with the help of those networks.

Social Media Examples                                                 Social Network Examples
        Facebook                                                                          Recipe Lovers
        Twitter                                                                              Aces of Cards
        Myspace                                                                           I Love Cartoon
         Youtube                                                                      Search Engine Optimizer
         Orkut                                                                               Facebook Lovers
         Flickr                                                                               The sharp mind
         Digg                                                                                Total chemistry
     Delicious                                                                             Bike Hunks
    Classmates   etc.                                                                   Chill n read  etc.



How to optimize your business website for social media?

Follow these guidelines for proper social media optimization of your website:-



  • Create a complete profile of your brand or company on the targeted social media website.
  • Join like minded social networks and share useful stuff with them.
  • Share some interesting news and try to integrate your brand with it.
  • Follow the social media etiquettes.
  • Include url’s to your website when sharing information with your audience.
  • Keep your profile updated.
  • Increase your social sphere. Have more likes in your facebook page, more followers on twitter profile etc.