Using Social Media for Business


Which social media platforms seem geared towards personal use? Why do you think so?

While most social media platforms are geared for personal use they all relay on advertisements to generate a part of their revue.  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter all allow a large amount of user control over the content they see including advertisements and this helps to mold the user experience into one the public finds enjoyable. 

Which ones seem to work better for business? What makes them seem more suitable to business use?

As a native English speaker and an American I would chose Facebook  as the best for business due to several factors including ease of setup, being able to target ads to very specific demographics and sure volume of traffic. Though they are not alone in the first two categories listed they are the most popular site in the Americas. If I were in need of targeting customers in China I would pick a site like QZone which has the ability to target advertising as specific audiences and orders of magnitude more users.  

Do any seem to work well for both? How are they used differently?

Social media is normally aimed at the end user and designed for that purpose. Platforms such as Google Hangouts (that was what it was called, right?) had every advantage a new service could want except a user base. People simple did not like it for a verity of reasons and it fell the the wayside. Not only do most work well for both, I believe that in order for a platform to succeed they must work well for both the individual and for a business. 
The majority of users are normal people doing normal things online, liking cat pictures and commenting on pop-celebrity news. They will see ads many, many times and interact with a few that stand out to them. The users post to share info with friends and family, to get a laugh or to get a lick. It is all very interpersonal. A business will use a platform to not just advertise but to inform, to provide customer service and to build a brand. I am honestly not 100% sure how a company succeeds while others fail. 

Comments

  1. I really enjoyed that you went into other demographics outside of the USA. I always forget that every country has their own sites and platforms for personal and business use! I have never heard of QZone. until now.

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