Social media is a collective term for online platforms that allow users to connect, communicate, and share content. Some prominent social media sites include Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Wikipedia, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Pinterest. There are various ways to market products on social media, such as establishing objectives, choosing relevant sites, maintaining a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter, utilizing LinkedIn for business connections, and creating engaging blog content or guest posts. Overall, social media provides a low-cost way for businesses to promote their brand and products to a wide online audience.

1. SOCIAL
MEDIA

2. What is SocialMedia?
• Social media is the collective of online
communications channels dedicated to
community-based input, interaction, content-
sharing and collaboration.
• Websites and applications dedicated
to forums,microblogging, social
networking, social bookmarking, social
curation, and wikis are among the different
types of social media.

3. Some prominent
examples of social media:

4. • Facebook is a popular free social networking
website that allows registered users to create
profiles, upload photos and video, send
messages and keep in touch with friends,
family and colleagues. According to statistics
from the Nielsen Group, Internet users within
the United States spend more time on
Facebook than any other website.

5. • Twitter is a free micro blogging service that
allows registered members to broadcast short
posts called tweets. Twitter members can
broadcast tweets and follow other users' tweets
by using multiple platforms and devices
• Google+ (pronounced Google plus)
is Google's social networking project, designed to
replicate the way people interact offline more
closely than is the case in other social networking
services. The project’s slogan is “Real-life sharing
rethought for the web.”

6. • Wikipedia is a free, open content online
encyclopedia created through the
collaborative effort of a community of users
known as Wikipedians. Anyone registered on
the site can create an article for publication;
registration is not required to edit articles.
Wikipedia was founded in January of 2001.

7. • LinkedIn is a social networking site designed specifically
for the business community. The goal of the site is to
allow registered members to establish and document
networks of people they know and trust professionally.
• Reddit is a social news website and forum where
stories are socially curated and promoted by site
members. The site is composed of hundreds of sub-
communities, known as "subreddits." Each subreddit
has a specific topic such as technology, politics or
music. Reddit site members, also known as,
"redditors," submit content which is then voted upon
by other members. The goal is to send well-regarded
stories to the top of the site's main thread page.

8. • Pinterest is a social curation website for sharing
and categorizing images found online. Pinterest
requires brief descriptions but the main focus of
the site is visual. Clicking on an image will take
you to the original source, so, for example, if you
click on a picture of a pair of shoes, you might be
taken to a site where you can purchase them. An
image of blueberry pancakes might take you to
the recipe; a picture of a whimsical birdhouse
might take you to the instructions.

9. Brian Solis created the following social media chart, known as the
conversation prism, to categorize social sites and services into various types
social media.

10. Social media is becoming an integral part of life
online as social websites and applications
proliferate. Most traditional online media
include social components, such as comment
fields for users. In business, social media is used
to market products, promote brands, connect to
current customers and foster new business.

12. How to Market a Product
on Social Media

13. For business owners in this age of online commerce
and social media networking interacting with end
users has become customary. Sellers and
advertisers are seeking new ways of staying close to
existing clients and prospective buyers using various
online options including social networking sites.
Regardless of the segment of the business, you are
in or its scale, social media is a fantastic way of
promoting a product or business service. It is a
definite way of reaching out to your potential and
existing buyers in the shortest possible time and at
least cost.

14. Step 1. Establishing an
Objective
Obviously, the objective for being present in
networking sites is the promotion of your
product or service. However, it is advisable to
have specific objectives: such as getting more
repeat orders, gaining new buyers etc.

15. Step 2. Picking the Social
Networking Sites
There are multiple social networking sites, and as
an advertiser, it is foremost to select the best
among them. Most commonly used networking
sites are Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
You may also go for advertising on lesser known
sites such as Pinterest and Tumblr. It is easier to get
advertising space in the less popular social sites and
the possibility of growth in viewers’ traffic is higher.

16. Step 3. Having Presence on
Facebook and Twitter
Facebook and Twitter are the two most popular social
networking sites globally. A presence in any or both of
these sites would ensure a worldwide viewership. Having
your own Facebook page would enable interested
viewers and potential customers to interact in an informal
manner. It would also let you have feedbacks and
comments directly from end users. Through these social
sites surveys, and quizzes could be conducted and
winners be awarded. Offering rewards to viable
suggestions or propositions is an excellent way of keeping
members interested and engaged.
Twitter is a comment based networking site while
Facebook allows sharing of pictures and videos as well.

17. Step 4. Do not neglect LinkedIn
The approach of LinkedIn is markedly different
from either Twitter or Facebook. Though a social
site, LinkedIn is more inclined towards
professionals and businesses. Presence on this
social network assures a more productive
response from members and viewers. If you
actually are interested in establishing
commercial deals and relationships through
networking sites then, LinkedIn would be your
safest bet.

18. Step 5. Blogging
Blogging is a great way of getting viewers attracted to your
product or service. There are two ways of going about
blogging. Firstly, you could create your own blogging or blog
site and make your own creations. Secondly, you could write
as a guest in other related blogs about your commodity or
service. You could even ask your friends and well wishers to
share their thoughts and impressions about your good or
service in the form of blogs.
The most effective way of promoting through social
networking sites is to appoint social media marketers. They
are trained professionals in doing social media marketing
against a charge. It is always advisable to engage professionals
as they are thoroughly aware of current trends and
possibilities in social media marketing.