Social Media Essay

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Google has implemented many privacy features to protect user's information, such as encryption services, two-step verification for accessing your account, and constant reviews of their collection, storage, and processing practices.

As a manager, if you're interested in making sure that your teams are productively using Google+, then you can make it mandatory that you are included in all of their business circles.

In closing, Google+ is yet another alternative for social networking that could prove it be very beneficial for its users. The constant interaction with new people, places, and businesses combined with the privacy and security of your own groups makes Google+ a great choice (Google+).

Twitter

By: Logan Wetzel

Twitter is used daily, sometimes hourly by people around the world. Companies are realizing this and using it to their advantage. Twitter allows workers to update colleagues, partners, and customers about the latest marketing campaigns, available job openings, and other important company messages. 65% of Fortune 100 companies use twitter to communicate with customers and stockholders. It allows a person to keep anyone following them "in the loop" and can be used effectively if done correctly. People can also tag the company and give praise or complaints. 81% of marketers using social media said it generates more exposure for their business. By simply posting on twitter that they are having a sale, a company can bring in customers that would have never known about it if it wasn’t for the social media site (Pradiptarini). Twitter can also hurt a company. In 2002, McDonalds launched a campaign to try to show that they used fresh products. They used the hash tag #MeetTheFarmers and #McDStories. This promotion backfired when people started posting horror stories about trips they have taken to the fast food chain. Companies also need to be aware of who is sending tweets using the official company page. The person in charge of Microsoft’s twitter page sent out a tweet insulting the views of Ann Coulter using Microsoft’s page and not his own. The company deleted the tweet and had to send out a public apology. People are always checking twitter, not for business but for personal use. This is why employers may block employees from using the site on company time. 54% of companies block employee access to twitter. This ensures that other than the marketing team people won’t be wasting time while they are on the clock. Companies have also been known to get in trouble using twitter (Gaudin, 2009).

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Instagram

By: Mandy Eagler

Created in October of 2010, Instagram quickly grew to over a million users within two months of launching. Instagram is currently ranked the #1 photo social platform. It is estimated that there are 150 million monthly active members on Instagram. On any given day, there are approximately 55 million photos shared using Instagram (“The complete history, 2014”).

Businesses have numerous opportunities to utilize Instagram in the workplace. A business could promote itself through the site using pictures to introduce new services or products. This could potentially increase the target market if the photos are shared publicly. Instagram also allows users to follow one another, so businesses can have users follow their page for updates. Instagram has the potential to offer free advertisement should businesses share their pictures on the site. This is a very cost effective method of promoting products or services (Opportunities and challenges, 2013).

Professional networking can be done through Instagram in that users can see one another’s interests and work. For example, artists can network with one another and share photos of their latest work. The site also allows users to search for topics through the use of hash tags. Similar to Twitter, these hash tags combine users’ photos using the same hash tags into one page.

A hazard with Instagram is that anyone can create an account, and the site does not monitor individual accounts to see if people are who they say they are. In this aspect, any individual could create an account claiming to be the business and then post offensive material. Also, employees can post photos or comments that could harm the reputation of the business. If a business is to be careful of its online reputation, some measures need to be taken to ensure that employees are not posting offensive or slanderous material online. The business can also monitor what the public is posting regarding the organization and respond if appropriate.

Works Cited

MindTools. "Using LinkedIn™ Effectively: Growing Your Professional Network." Using LinkedIn™ Effectively. Mind Tools Ltd, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.

Recruiting Survey: Social Media Helps Connect Job Seekers with Employers (2012).

Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/notes/social-jobs-partnership/recruiting-survey-social-media-helps-connect-job-seekers-with-employers/404484379619706

Floyd, Terry (2011). Facebook costing U.S. employers $28 billion in lost productivity: blogger. Retrieved from: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/right-click/facebook-costing-u-employers-28-billion-lost-productivity-192444219.html

The Complete History of Instagram. (2014, January 3). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://wersm.com/the-complete-history-of-instagram/

Opportunities and Challenges of Social Media in the Workplace - Tech Ranch Austin. (2013, May 15). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://techranchaustin.com/opportunities-and-challenges-of-social-media-in-the-workplace/

Google+. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2015

Gaudin, S. (2009, October 9). Study: 54 Percent of Companies Ban Facebook, Twitter at Work | WIRED. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.wired.com/2009/10/study-54-of-companies-ban-facebook-twitter-at-work/

Pradiptarini, C. (n.d.). Social media marketing. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.uwlax.edu/urc/JUR-online/PDF/2011/pradiptarini.MKT.pdf