Social media has become the new way of communication, however there are still some questions that surround how it is affecting our society. Throughout this course we have examined the phenomenon of the emergence of social media life and the real world and essentially has shaped our everyday lives, business practices, and global expansion.  What of the questions or arguments that stems from this phenomenon is has technology and networking websites actually brought us closer in personal relationships or farther apart? As that question still remains unanswered, I will be focusing on how businesses have used social media platforms to their advantage. As business, social media also build that relationship with the customers, which is result builds trust. The more customers trust a business and mission of that company, the more likely they will become loyal customers. This is the ultimate goal to have and maintain a successful business.

TED TALK-The Power of

Twenty years ago, the way of business marketing was completely different. The reason being, social media had not yet been invented. Social media and other networking websites are now a main platform for businesses to market their product or service, as well as have more control on who is seeing it. Twenty years ago the only way for businesses to communicate and market to potential customers or get the word out about your business, was by purchasing ads, billboards, commercials, and radio. One of the problems with the old marketing strategies practices, it was hard for business owners to calculate results of their marketing campaigns and if it was actually reaching the intended target audience. Why is that? If a business buys a billboard, the only audience that will see that add are people that physically drive or walk by. Depending on where the add is placed, there could be limited number of potential customers seeing that add and this is difficult to calculate. Social media websites and with the help of Google Analytics, it gives businesses the opportunity to directly market to their intended target audience, reaching a much larger number.

As a result of the birth of social media and networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn--- businesses have been able to grow more rapidly, have more access to communicate with customers, integrate marketing strategies through all forms of media, and able to get direct feedback from customers through programs like Google Analytics. These are all components of how social media has become the main marketing platform, and a way to build a business more affordably than twenty years ago.

As a new business owner, you must strategically use social media and networking websites as a communication platform. Why? The majority of businesses and competition will have social media--- if you fail to use these communication mediums, your business will essentially be behind your competition. The first step is understanding the businesses brand and mission completely, and being able to communicate that message clearly. Once that is decided, then integrate all marketing techniques and strategies with social media, blog, and company’s own website. All information, brand, and message should correlate within all communication platforms to get the best results, and essentially gain more revenue.  There is no question that social media has changed the way businesses market, and has proven to be a successful communication platform for that purpose.