"Save your company's cash. Leveraging Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter is fast, easy, and free." -Stephen Baker (BusinessWeek)
What easier way to network with millions of people than a FREE and EASY way? Already, there are over 200 million people on Facebook and over 20 million on Twitter alone and companies are taking full advantage. They have used these sites and others just like this to advertise for their business. Linking their website to posts and chats, creating homepages and group pages, etc... This allows them to connect with millions of people who are obviously already social minded and the place in which they are doing it from is already free.
But, what is everyone else (outside of corporate) saying about this? Well, most people feel as if their space is being invaded by company info and their tactics to lure people in. These social networking sites were created mainly for the purpose of doing just that "socializing" not reading advertisements and reading messages from multiple companies attempting to gain more business. It doesn't seem fair to the people who really don't want to be bothered with that type of activity.
Being a business woman and a social geek, I can understand both sides of the fence. For business, its simply a free way to advertise your product or service to many people in one place at the same time. But, for the members, it does become a bit frustrating when you go to a place just to avoid those very same things. Now you are beginning to feel bombarded or even violated.
What are your thoughts?
I understand that it can be frustrating for people to receive those notices or information they aren't interested in. But users would have to decide whether to continue using these social networks and deal with what is attached or reside to abstinence.
ReplyDeleteKevin - I hear where you're coming from but you have to understand that certain social networking sites were created for entertainment purposes and not for businesses to be promoted. They were already too far deep into the network to turn around after businesses pushed their way in.
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