Social media

What it is, what you need to know about it, and how you can use it to promote your business

By: Mike Manges

“I don’t think you should use social media for selling,” says Kevin Kraft, co-owner of Kraft Tire in Marlborough, Mass. “There are other avenues for that. You want to post things people can relate to.”

By now, you’ve probably heard of Facebook and Twitter. You may even be familiar with YouTube and LinkedIn. These platforms are part of what’s popularly called “social media,” the latest Internet age phenomenon.

Millions of people use social media to e-mail one another, swap photos and share what’s happening in their lives.

But there’s more to this pop culture trend than merely keeping in touch with family and friends.
Businesses, from small companies to huge corporations, have started to use Facebook, Twitter and various other social media platforms to directly interact with consumers.

Through social media, companies are establishing “two-way street” dialogues with the people who buy their products and services. And there are plenty of social media users out there.
eMarketer Inc., a firm that tracks and analyzes digital and social media trends, estimates that more than 18 million people will communicate via Twitter, one of the most popular social media platforms, this year.  

Perhaps the most popular social media service, Facebook, has more than 200 million registered users. (Twenty-six to 44 year olds comprise the fastest growing segment of Facebook users, according to eMarketer.)

Initially dismissed by many as a fad, social media is here to stay. The question is: How can you leverage it to benefit your business?

« Previous  |  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  |  Next »

Related Topics: Facebook, JTMarCom, Kenwood Tire, Kraft Tire, LinkedIn, Social Butterfly, Social media, Summit Tire, Twitter

Recent News

• Kyle LeDuc and Toyo Tires, Six wins and counting
• Points for Mahindra at streaming Le Mans
• Find Bosch parts on your iPhone, iPad
• Two Continental tires named a 'Best Buy'
• Retired Cooper chief Fitzgerald passes away
• Dominant Lorenzo takes victory in MotoGP
• Pirelli and F1: cracking the barcode
• AAIA holds elections for board of directors
• Nominate someone for TIA’s Hall of Fame
• Right to Repair bill jumps first hurdle