What is social media?

Social Media is a selection of platforms based on the internet that allow participants to share large amounts of information through photos, audio, text and video. 

It is a great tool for your business and for promoting your event as it enables you to connect with your target audience and build those key relationships to not only sell and market to, but to successfully engage with. 

Your 'followers' on social media will give you the opportunity to listen first hand at what their likes and dislikes are with the ability to respond to them in a positive way that is much more fast paced than traditional customer service methods. 

If social media is new to you then remember to be creative, honest and engaging whilst always planning ahead.

Here's a breakdown of social media platforms: 

Social Networks

Personal web pages that you can build to connect with others and share content on. 

Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and Bebo.

Blogs 

A regularly updated website or journal, written in a conversational style.   

BlogSpot, WordPress and Tumblr 

Podcasts 

A digital audio file made available to download or stream online either via a computer or mobile device. 

ITunes, Spotify and SoundCloud

Content Communities 

Platforms that specialise in creating a community of content, either through creating and sharing videos, photos or bookmarked links. 

YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr and del.icio.us 

Micro blogging 

A social media site in which users make short and regular posts, also known as 'updates'. 

Twitter 

Social networks and other online media are great tools for engagement and two-way communication, but given the nature of this  real-time communication, there is also potential for significant risks. Therefore knowing which platforms to use and the way in which to use them properly will give you a good head start.