What is social media and why should you care?

September 2nd, 2009 by admin. Tags: Artopod, Social Media

We’re in the middle of a huge evolution of communication. It’s probably as big or even bigger than the introduction of the telephone over a century ago. This is a real game changer. People can think, type and publish instantly from mobile devices and we’re only starting to realize the effects this will have on society.

Ok, it’s big, but what exactly is social media? Well, it is not really a new media channel at all, it’s a more mature internet involving all kinds of media and communication. You could say platforms and services for interaction and networking, that would actually be a more accurate definition. You can use Facebook to connect with friends and family, Twitter to share and learn about subjects you’re interested in, Linked-In to find professionals in your desired field, YouTube to share video with the world, SlideShare to watch and share your presentations, blogs to talk about your area of expertise and so on. These are all technologies, services and networks that define social media. With these tools you can come up with an idea, make a prototype and publish very quickly. You will also get feedback from friends, users, customers and critics about your idea or concept. No gate keepers in the way of publishing and that is huge! Remember how much it would have cost to get 5 min of video aired for 1 000 000 people 10 years ago! This combined with the lowered cost of actually creating the content makes for a great creative revolution.

So why should you care? Well this is happening whether we like it or not Everyone will be affected, but some will not know why this is happening to them. A lot of old gate keepers will either be destroyed or transformed into something new, it depends if they know what’s going on around them. It’s not just a question of marketing, it’s a fundamental shift in the way companies and organizations work. Be personal, engage in conversations, share knowledge, build trust. This can be very frightening, but also very rewarding. It has everything to do with co-creation, customer support, product development, sales and creativity.

I will talk more in-depth about this at the FilmArc Master Class in Luleå on the 14th of September. Hope to see you there!

Text: Leif Rehnström, Business Developer at Artopod – a social web agency.