Not Sure Where It’s Going With Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing is slowly growing beyond the Next Big Thing in online advertising. Already, thousands of companies are using the sizeable resources provided by social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. However, the longevity of services such as these (collectively known as ‘Web 2.0’) might be viewed with skepticism by business owners and marketing traditionalists. Thanks to the Internet’s constantly shifting domains and trends, some wonder if Web 2.0 is just a fad. Taking a closer look, however, we can see how the Internet is actually geared towards the social media revolution by its very construction, a revolution that shows no signs of slowing down.

The phenomenon known as social media has been steadily growing over the past six years or so. Websites such as Wikipedia and YouTube that advocated user-created content began to flourish, to the point where search engine giant Google purchased YouTube for $1.6 Billion USD in 2006, just over a year and a half since it was launched. Now, YouTube serves advertising content from thousands of businesses, netting sizeable returns from the millions of daily video viewers.

The question is, can services like YouTube and Facebook remain growing platforms for businesses and users alike? We’d say the answer is yes – the secret is in user generated content. Sites that allow interactivity are evolving hotbeds of cultural stimulation, offering businesses an immense and growing base to draw on. Advertising on these websites may be achieved directly, or, more cost-effectively, using indirect means such as viral videos and fan pages. The future is looking bright for social media – make sure your business isn’t left out in the cold!

By Michael Arendt for MyConsulting