How can companies adapt to how social media are changing the way information is shared andconsumed.

Social media are really changing the way people live.  Because information drives life, social media are affecting the different aspects of people’s lives.  The internet has really changed the way people consume information. In the past, people relied on books, newspapers,the TV and other communication channels to receive information.  In the past it was hard to get instant information that was updated in real-time. People often read about the events in other countries the following day in the newspapers. Today, people go online and can become updated on events in other countries as they happen.  Social media like Twitter allow people to share information in real-time.  An event happening in Asia can be shared to people living in Europe and vice versa. Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can share information and have an audience. Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can also take information from the internet and use that information in any way he or she wants.

Because of the different ways social media are changing the way information is shared and consumed, a company that wants to really succeed in business would have to take these changes into consideration when creating its marketing, public relations and branding campaigns. 

What’s great about the speed by which information can be shared online is that a company that has a brilliant idea can expect people to spread the word on their own without coercing.  Videos can go viral, people can lead traffic to a website and information can be spread through emails and blogs.  The message or information you want to send out there can be distributed without the need for your business to spend too much money. In the past, it was difficult to get free publicity.  Major sources of information like the TV, newspapers and radio charge expensive rates for advertising.  PR can be published for free but it’s difficult to get free space and you need to make sure your press release really is news-worthy.    This is why social media are wonderful tools that businesses should take advantage of. Many of the social networks offer services for free and it is only a matter of how the businesses would use them that will determine the value that the business will gain from these social media.

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