Social media principles

Social media allows people to communicate with each other, come together and share opinions and ideas on the Internet (J. I. Miletsky 2009, p. 75).

There are many benefits of using social media, including (J. I. Miletsky 2009, p. 78, 82):

• People can present there their opinions and beliefs by writing many posts on blogs and online forums. Consequently, they can easily find people who have similar interests and views.
• People have the ability to write revievs about products and services which they have bought or used. Due to it other custmers can read this and decide whether they want to posess a particular item or service or not.
• Using social media gives the opportunity to keep in touch with relatives, loved ones, friends and people who live abroad.
• People have unlimited access to information and news from the whole world.
• Social media can be used as one of the marketing tools. Menagers can widen their messages about products and services among all users of the Internet.
• By creating homepage and applications, the organization gives the opportunity to online users to come together what can help to create its own community.

Fundamental Principles of Social Media

There are some core principles which can help the organization to develop their relationships with online users, including (A. Bruns 2010, p. 309-311):

• Being open means that it is necessary to win new users over social media without losing trusted contributors. New participants can add freshness, new ideas to the community, and consequently, the discussion can put on different way. When the organization wants to grow up in social media, it cannot hide information from online users about internal developments, like changes in services or new products. It is a good practice because informed contributors can expand the news about these developments and in consequence generate additional interest.
• Seeding community processes means that the organization should encourage community members to take part in creating and developing online community. It is also needed to create some rules which help the website to develop even if there is no moderator available.
• Supporting community dynamics means that the organization should try to treat them as partners, because such action can contribute to the development of the social media community and space. This may be reached by sending them new products which they can check or by involving them as community moderators. It is important to take care of relationships with community members because, e.g. it can bring new ideas out. In addition, managers of the organization should remember that they cannot force anybody to be interested in their community.
• Not exploiting the community means that users of the social media sites should not feel like being abused by operators of such sites. It helps to keep in touch with loyalty contributors. This principle is very important among social media sites which are created mostly by users.

Examples of Social media principles

• Content Creation: Content creation is the process of creating, publishing, and sharing content online. Examples of content creation include blog posts, podcasts, videos, and photos.
• Relationship Building: Relationship building is the act of forming relationships with other people online. Examples of relationship building include following, commenting, and liking posts on social media sites.
• Sharing: Sharing is the act of exchanging content with others online. Examples of sharing include posting links, sharing photos, and tweeting messages.
• Engagement: Engagement is the act of interacting with content posted by others. Examples of engagement include commenting, liking, and retweeting posts on social media sites.
• Analysis: Analysis is the process of interpreting data from social media platforms. Examples of analysis include measuring the reach of content, tracking engagement, and gathering insights about the audience.

Advantages of social media

Social media has many advantages that can enhance the lives of individuals and businesses alike. Here are some of the major benefits:

• Instant Communication: Social media provides an easy way for people to connect with each other and exchange ideas, opinions and information. It also allows people to stay in touch with friends and family, no matter where they are in the world.
• Increased Visibility and Brand Awareness: Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram give businesses the opportunity to showcase their products and services, and reach a larger audience. This can help to increase their visibility and build a loyal customer base.
• Cost-effective Marketing: Social media is a great way for businesses to market their products and services, without having to spend a lot of money. It is also a great way for businesses to interact with their customers and build relationships.
• Improved Customer Service: Social media gives businesses the chance to interact with their customers in a more direct and personal way. This can help businesses to address any customer concerns quickly and efficiently.
• Increased Engagement: Social media is a great way to encourage users to engage with your brand. This can be done through polls, surveys, and other interactive content. This can help to build stronger relationships with your customers.

Other approaches related to Social media principles

Social media has enabled us to connect, share, and interact with others in new ways. There are a number of other approaches related to these principles:

• Building relationships: Social media can be used to build relationships by connecting with people who have similar interests and goals. This could include connecting with colleagues, friends, and family.
• Engaging and inspiring: Social media can be used to engage and inspire by creating content that is relevant and interesting to its users. This could include creating content such as articles, videos, and podcasts.
• Growing brand awareness: Social media can be used to grow brand awareness by increasing visibility, generating leads, and creating a community around a brand. This could include posting regularly, engaging with customers, and running promotions.
• Creating a sense of community: Social media can be used to create a sense of community by engaging with users and creating an environment where people feel comfortable to share their thoughts and opinions.

In summary, social media can be used to build relationships, engage and inspire, grow brand awareness, and create a sense of community. It is an important tool for connecting with people, growing a brand, and creating a positive environment for its users.

Social media principles — recommended articles

Types of social media — Influencer marketing strategy — Benefits of social media marketing — Social network marketing strategy — Digital media marketing — Types of business communication — Social media optimization — Buzz marketing — Areas of marketing

References

• Bruns A. (2010), Doing Social Media - some fundamental principles, "Keeping Good Companies", nr 62, p. 309-311
• Kim M. Carolyn (2016), Social Media Campaigns: Strategies for Public Relations and Marketing, Routledge, New York
• Miletsky I. Jason (2009), Principles of Internet Marketing: New Tools and Methods for Web Developers, Cengage Learning, Boston
• Sheldon P. (2015), Social Media. Principles and Applications, Lexington Books, London

Author: Katarzyna Krzyk, Adrianna Kuzak, Julia Kotlarz