According to Digizen, Social Networking can be broadly defined as Internet- or mobile-device-based social spaces designed to facilitate communication, collaboration and content sharing across networks of contacts. Digizen goes on to say that social networking services are changing the ways in which people use and engage with the Internet and with each other. But are they really?
It seems as if everyone has one, and experts say they’re a great marketing tool. No better opportunity exists to engage in an open dialogue and exchange of ideas with customers and potential customers. But is the time commitment worth it?
I own a small service firm, and I’ve been advised to create a blog as a marketing tool. What are the pros and cons of this new medium, and how would I get started? – BT, Johannesberg
.. I’ve learnt a lot:
I’ve learnt that some clients aren’t worth having no matter how much they pay, and that some clients are worth so much more than the discounts I gave them. I’ve learnt I’d rather do business with friends than strangers, because friends are more reliable. And if they’re not reliable, they’re not a friend.
I’ve found a friend I thought I’d lost. I lost a friend I thought I had (although the friend I found assures me that the friend I lost was not a friend worth having and I tend to agree).
I’ve learnt that what’s best for a horse is not necessarily best for the owner (I cried my eyes out when I rehomed Redwing but he is so loved and pampered now) and I learnt that what’s best for the owner is not necessarily best for a horse (I left Evil to die on the farm)
I’ve learnt that my family are my friends (Ings is just the best sister anyone can have and my brother still makes me laugh) and that my friends are my family: everyone who stood by me and loved and comforted me while I cried over Wing and Evil; and everyone who stood by me and loved me and laughed with me a million times this year.
I’ve learnt that a new love is sometimes better than an old love; that what I thought was a fairytale was not nearly as good as the reality that has become better than any fairytale I could imagine.
I’ve learnt that old friends really are the best friends and that all the friends I have are old friends.