A virtual community is a social network of individuals who interact through online media to pursue shared interests or goals, potentially across geographical and political boundaries. While online interactions cannot replace real-world community, social media supports human social interaction by allowing many-to-many communication over the internet. Both commercial organizations and political campaigns can use social networking to share their message and stories with audiences, build connections, and motivate supporters to action. Businesses in particular can benefit from using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn to meet and engage customers, share information, and promote their websites and brands.

1. © Karen A. Davis 2011 VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES Build yours!

2. © Karen A. Davis 2011 What is a Virtual Community? ? A social network of individuals who interact through specific media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. The Virtual Community by Howard Rheingold “ People who use computers to communicate, form friendships that sometimes form the basis of communities, but you have to be careful to not mistake the tool for the task and think that just writing words on a screen is the same thing as real community." – Howard L. Rheingold

3. © Karen A. Davis 2011 ...and Social Networking? Individuals or organizations connected by some interdependency, such as friendship, business exchanges, likes, dislikes or beliefs. Social Media supports the human need for social interaction using Internet- and web-based technologies, changing broadcasts from one-to-many to many-to-many.

4. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Message to the Masses

5. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Commercial: Coca Cola http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zCsFvVg0UY&feature=related

6. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Masses to the Message

7. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Corporate: Coca Cola (international)

8. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Corporate: Faygo (regional)

13. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Your Business: Use New Media It’s close to free! Low barrier to entry (you = your competition) If you’ve got access to a computer or cell phone, let’s get going! “ The conversation is happening with or without you.” - David Meerman Scott

14. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Your Business: Use New Media Meet and retain clients and collaborators: Interact Respond to stories Build familiarity and trust Share information: learn, educate, collaborate Motivate your audience to action Respond to stories Build familiarity and trust Motivate your audience to action

15. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Your Business All roads lead to your website.

17. © Karen A. Davis 2011 Your Business & Twitter 175 million registered users 56 million accounts on Twitter follow 8 or more accounts; 38 million accounts follow 16 accounts; 12 million follow 64. Post messages in 140 characters or less Link (direct) people to your other sites http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-how-many-users-does-twitter-really-have-2011-3