What are social networks?
Social Networks are structures formed on the Internet by people or organizations that connect based on common interests or values. Through them, relationships between individuals or companies are created quickly, without hierarchy or physical limits.
Social networks, in the virtual world, are sites and applications that operate at different levels – such as professional, relationship, among others – but always allowing the exchange of information between people and / or companies.
When we talk about social network, what comes to mind first are sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn or applications like Snapshot and Instagram, typical of today. But the idea, however, is much older: in sociology, for example, the concept of social network is used to analyze interactions between individuals, groups, organizations or even entire societies since the end of the 19th century.
On the Internet, social networks have sparked discussions such as lack of privacy, but they have also served as a means of calling for public demonstrations in protests. These platforms also created a new form of relationship between companies and customers, opening paths both for interaction, and for the announcement of products or services.
Social Networks and Social Media
Many people believe that social networks and social media are the same and that the terms can be used as synonyms, but it is not true. Social media is the use of technologies to make interactive the dialogue between people, while social network is a social structure formed by people who share similar interests, as we already detailed in the previous item.
The main purpose of social networks is to connect people. Complete your profile on social media channels and interact with people based on the details they read about you. You can say that social networks are a category of social media. Hailey Baldwin Bieber Says Social Media Can Be A ‘Cruel’ Place
Social media, in turn, is a broad term, covering different media, such as videos, blogs and the aforementioned social networks. To understand the concept, you can look at what we understood as media before the existence of the Internet: radio, TV, newspapers, magazines. When the media were available on the Internet, they ceased to be static, offering the possibility of interacting with other people.
At the heart of social media are relationships, which are common in social networks, so it can generate confusion. Social media are places where information can be transmitted to other people. Another way to differentiate them is to think that social media help people come together through technology while social networks improve that connection, since people only interconnect in networks because they have common interests.
Positive points of social networks
The use of social networks has been absorbed by people around the world and is now part of the routine. This made these spaces a place where brands and companies would also like to be to interact with their prospects and customers, bringing very positive possibilities, such as:
Social networks
Social Networks are structures formed on the Internet by people or organizations that connect based on common interests or values. Through them, relationships between individuals or companies are created quickly, without hierarchy or physical limits. Social networks, in the virtual world, are sites and applications that operate at different levels – such as professional, relationship, among others – but always allowing the exchange of information between people and / or companies.
When we talk about social network, what comes to mind first are sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn or applications like snap chat and Instagram, typical of today. But the idea, however, is much older: in sociology, for example, the concept of social network is used to analyze interactions between individuals, groups, organizations or even entire societies since the end of the 19th century.
On the Internet, social networks have sparked discussions such as lack of privacy, but they have also served as a means of calling for public demonstrations in protests. These platforms also created a new form of relationship between companies and customers, opening paths both for interaction, and for the announcement of products or services.
Social Networks and Social Media
Many people believe that social networks and social media are the same and that the terms can be used as synonyms, but it is not true. Social media is the use of technologies to make interactive the dialogue between people, while social network is a social structure formed by people who share similar interests, as we already detailed in the previous item.
The main purpose of social networks is to connect people. Complete your profile on social media channels and interact with people based on the details they read about you. You can say that social networks are a category of social media.
Positive points of social networks
The use of social networks has been absorbed by people around the world and is now part of the routine. This made these spaces a place where brands and companies would also like to be to interact with their prospects and customers, bringing very positive possibilities, such as:
Share the vision of the company : social networks are a kind of showcase of your company; in them you can show the vision of the business, in what you believe;
The personalization of the message and the direct interaction with the client : in social networks, it is possible to have a much more personalized and direct relationship with each client or possible client, since you can get in touch with each one, either to solve problems or to discover new information;
Possibility of segmentation of the public: by publishing on social networks, it is possible to segment your posts according to the characteristics of the audience, directing your efforts towards those ranges of the public that have more affinity with your solution;
To know more about each of your clients: people share their tastes, desires and other information that can be valuable for companies when approaching their target audience. Stay tuned for what is relevant for your audience to better connect to it;
Possibility of selling through these channels : in the same way that it is possible to interact with the public through social networks, it is also possible to use them to sell your products or services, mainly if you address that audience that already has a relationship with you and is already shown mature for purchase;
Create an environment controlled by the brand: regardless of who your audience is, it will be in a social network.
Possibility of dissemination for companies with low budget : unlike traditional media, advertising on social networks has a lower cost, in addition to the advantage that it is much easier to measure the results on the web;
Information in real time: social networks allow communicating urgent messages of the brand in an official channel. This is very important in the case of the management of a crisis, for example, in which it is necessary for the brand to be positioned quickly, thus avoiding taking greater proportions.
Social network of relationships
You may be thinking: The purpose of social networks is not just to relate? In fact that is the goal of most of them, but there are some that are especially focused on that.
The best known case is Facebook, whose purpose, at least in its conception, was to connect people. But we can mention countless other networks, which also fit the other types, such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ etc.
Entertainment social network
Social entertainment networks are those in which the main objective is not to interact with people, but to consume content.
The most iconic example is YouTube, the largest video distribution platform in the world, where the goal is to publish and watch videos. Another case is that of Pinterest, in which people publish and consume images.
Professional social network
They are those in which users aim to create professional relationships with other users, disseminate projects and professional conquests, present their curriculum and skills, in addition to getting directions, jobs, etc. Additionally, other networks that are not exclusively professional have also been used for this purpose, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Pinterest.
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.
