Benefits Of Using Social Media Channels To Organizations (Essay Sample)

          SOCIAL MEDIA   By (Name)             The Name of the Class (Course) Professor (Tutor) The Name of the School (University) The City and State where it is located The Date                                                       What is Social Media? Social media is a terminology that is used to refer to websites and applications which make it possible for people to pass messages in different forms in real time (Mayfield 2008, 5). Communication in social media started with the invention of computers and has been improved, more and more as the days go by through the use of smartphones among other portable devices such as tablets.  Social media websites and applications are dedicated to making it possible for a group of people to share content or collaborate. Examples of types of social media include sites that allow social bookmarking, microblogging and forums. Some of the common features portrayed by social media services are;         i.            They are interactive web-based applications which means that’s feedback is provided while using the applications       ii.            The main media passed through the social media includes textual posts and digital photos     iii.            Users have the capability of creating a profile of their own through the creation of a user account which is hosted by the social media organization offering the services.     iv.            Through the use of social media, it is possible to develop social networks through the connection of profiles used by different groups of people.       v.            Users can access social media services through the use of technologies that are web-based. The web-based technologies or platforms are accessible through the use of personal computers, laptops while downloadable apps on mobile devices offer others.     vi.            Through the use of social media on different platforms, it has been possible for organizations and individuals have a better and efficient means of communication. Its use is different from the traditional paper-based media such as business newsletters or traditional TV broadcasting. Benefits of using Social Media Channels to Organizations The use of Social Media outlets makes it possible for messages to be sent from multiple sources and received by many receivers. The traditional way of communication only allowed the flow of conversation from one source to multiple recipients. The conventional forms of communication which allowed movement of information from one sender to many receivers included the use of Newspapers and Radio Stations. In the modern world, popular online social websites include LinkedIn, Myspace, Google+, Viber, Facebook WhatsApp, Pinterest, Twitter and Skype among others (Sachs 2017). It is amazing that over 100,000,000 people are already registered on some of the social media websites which mean that it is the most common mode of communication used nowadays (Nielsen 2012). Using social media is the most effective means of communication because over 70% of people have an active social media profile with most of them spending a minimum of three hours in a single day. The most prominent examples of social media platforms and how businesses can benefit from them are described here      i.     Facebook FB (Facebook) is the most popular online social networking platform which allows people to register and once registered, they are able to create their profiles. Once a user is registered on Facebook, he or she can upload photos, videos or keep in touch with friends, relatives, and acquaintances through messaging. It has been proven by Nielsen Group that, most internet users in the United States use Facebook more than any other social website (Nielsen 2012). Organizations and other institutions can create Facebook groups where customers among other people are able to ask questions regarding the products offered. They can also pass complaints, compliments or even ask questions if the need arises and the organization's support agent can be in a position of proving appropriate feedback to the customers.    ii.     Twitter Twitter refers to a microblogging social service that allows all its registered users to pass short messages known as Tweets. It is possible for Twitter users to share their tweets and then follow other tweets. Business organizations can register for a Twitter account through which tweets can be broadcasted to customers. Twitter also provides private messaging services for one on one message.  iii.     Google+ Google+ is a networking site brought forward by Google Company designed to imitate the way people relate with one another offline. It can share pictures, videos or status to people with whom you have formed relationships within what is referred to as circles. Business organizations can improve their communications with prospective and potential customers by adding them up in their circles and the broadcasting information to them.   iv.     LinkedIn             LinkedIn refers to a social networking platform which has been designed to meet the needs of business organizations. The main aim of LinkedIn is to make it possible for all the registered users to establish networks of people whom they know, and they can trust for their professional skills in different areas. Businesses can benefit from the use of LinkedIn by letting other business organizations be aware of the capabilities a given employee possesses. Importance of Social Media in a Commercial Context Social Media can actively enhance the performance of a business and its commercial activities. Some of how the use of social media can transform a business includes         i.            Social Capital, which represents the length onto which organizations' relationships, utilize social media platforms to strengthen corporate social performance capabilities (Watson, 2016).       ii.            Revealed Preferences where the social media is in a position of exposing preferences of customers by considering likes and the number of followers.     iii.            Social Marketing which represents the level to which an organization can use social media to broaden its financial capabilities (DeMers 2014).     iv.            Social Corporate Networks, which are the creation of informal ties of the organization with other people who could be clients, customers or other stakeholders (Hajli 2014, 401). Benefits of Using Social Media for Recruitment Purposes The process of recruiting the most appropriate candidate is one of the most critical roles played by the Human Resources Department. Many tools can be used in the selection, and one of them happens to be social media because it can help in creating a link between the employer and the prospective employees. Additionally, social media has gained popularity in almost every field in the modern society which means that more people can be reached easily. Employers can be able to reach prospective candidates and invite them for interviews more efficiently and at lower costs compared to traditional methods. Through the use of online social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, employers are in a position of engaging the candidates more closely. Social media also makes it possible for employers to receive referrals and they will, therefore, have the advantage of hiring the best fit. In a nutshell, online social platforms such as LinkedIn and Job sites can be utilized by employers to fish for the candidates with the skills he or she is seeking.  Through the use of peoples registered in certain social websites by exploring their profiles in LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter it is possible to get a hint of the best candidate. Through the use of social media in recruitment it is possible to reach potential employees who are not actively seeking for employment. If a company is trying to recruit professionals for a particular job, it could share the vacancies in social groups where many professions can be reached easily. Social Media Policy for Staff Social media policy refers to guidelines which should be followed by the member of the team in their interactions with customers. The primary goal of setting up a social media policy is to ensure that the personal safety of the customers while protecting the reputation of the organization. Despite the countless benefits of social media enjoyed by organizations and the level of improvement technology makes organizations achieve, it is important to control how the staff used technology (Bryden & Salter 2016). One of the main reasons why there should be a social media policy in organizations is to ensure that the staff does not wa...