Social Media

Social Media: Does it help or hurt businesses?

Marketing media outlets and strategies have evolved over the years. One of the most recent forms is referred to as Social Media Marketing. Social Media is believed to have changed online marketing. Social Media has opened up the lines of communication for consumers (Maldonado). Consumer’s like good bargains. Social Media outlet such as Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest allows consumers different search options to find bargains. Carolina Reid wrote an article which was found on EContent titled “Should Business Embrace Social Networking? The article was written in 2009, this was a time in which social networking for business was blossoming. Carolina discusses the advantages of using social media are greater than the potential risks. Social Media can add revenues, generate new ideas for management, aid in communicating with consumers, reduce cost in other areas of the business, and build a company’s reputations along with numerous other benefits. The article does not suggest that traditional marketing strategies such as print, radio, or television are obsolete. Instead the article encourages companies to use social media with traditional strategies. Companies should not disregard social media which is a huge market for marketing (Reid).

Throughout the article the author gives examples of why she believes businesses should use social networking technology. Carolina Reid wrote this article at a time when many where going through a lot of economical changes. The recession began effecting many lives around 2008 and people wanted to find the best bargains and spend less. Carolina Reid interviewed management personnel from different companies. Most saw this time as an opportunity to pay more attention to understanding customers and their behavior. Technology, specifically social media allows companies to make new friendships as well as maintain relationships that already exist with their...