Internet Technology, Marketing, and Security

Evaluate the reasons Social Media Marketing has become exceedingly popular among businesses of all sizes.

Marketing has always been one of the most important departments of a successful business. Effective marketing can be the differences between a company being good and a company being great. In this competitive society, organizations have to go to great length to advertise and promote their products to earn valuable customer loyalty. Marketing concepts has had to evolve with the evolution of the internet and social media sites. Companies have no choice but to adapt to the new changes in their marketing strategies to remain relevant.

Millions of people around the world use the internet. According to the Journal of Marketing, by 2011, approximately 83% of Fortune 500 companies were using some form of social media to connect with consumers. Furthermore, surveys suggest that consumers are increasingly relying on social media to learn about unfamiliar brands.

The internet has basically changed the way we communicate with each other on a social and business level. When the social media craze first began, it was viewed primarily for entertainment and communicating with friends and family. It also provided people with the opportunities to tell others about experiences they have had with certain businesses good or bad as well as recommend places to visit. As social media continues to grow, it only seems right that companies would want to utilize this outlet to capture their audience. It didn’t take long for companies to realize the opportunities available for using social media for business. Now most companies have pages on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to name a few. Companies now even offer special incentives just for signing up for their page.

Everybody wants to expose their brand to a larger audience. The more people who are aware of your brand, the greater the chance you have of turning those into revenue. Social media

Running head: Internet Technology 3

marketing is the new word of mouth. It is popular among businesses because it is easier to maintain and cost efficient. Social media is an open book. If someone likes you then great, everyone can see it. If someone doesn’t like you, that will also be seen throughout the entire online community.

What better way to interact with new potential clients than via people who have already experienced what your brand has to offer? Most sites allow customers to share their page with other customers. When your social media presence starts to generate conversation and reactions such as; likes shares, tweets and pins that is an indication that your social marketing site is effective. It also allows you to see how the community views you as a whole.

Analyze the advantages and