Importance of Social Media for Businesses.

1. Maximizing Brand Awareness
and Promotion
By: Mohammed Omair Akthar

2. Communication Paradigm Shifts
● Promotion is done via communication
● Technology continues to change the way we
communicate; the right communicating platform is vital
for promotion
● Factors (Socioeconomic) produce communication
platforms people use; an ever changing process.
● Factors produce paradigm shifts; important to
constantly ‘ride the newest wave’

3. Communication Paradigm Shifts
Continued..
● The ‘Online Community’ (created by social
media) has come about through a process of
technological growth and globalization.
Smoke Signals Letters / Mail Telegraph
Email Mobile Phone Telephone
Online
Community

4. Why is Social Media Important in
Business? ‘ Ride the Wave’
● Used to market products, services and
promotions.
● Used for Public Relations purposes.
● Receive Active Feedback from users
● 86% of marketers stated Social Media is
important for their business.
● 89% of marketers increased exposure on their
business.

5. Social Media Platforms
● 1.) FaceBook, 2.) Twitter, 3.) Instagram, 4.)
Google+, 5.) YouTube

6. 1.FaceBook Stats
● 1.26 Billion Users
● 1.23 Billion Avg. monthly active users
● 128 million daily active users (In the U.S.)
● Avg. 945 million monthly active mobile users
● 59% of all Internet users in North America are
FaceBook users.
● Huge audience to market products/services.
● Ability to target certain demographics.
● Active 2-way communication with users.
(promotion/feedback)

7. 2.Twitter Stats
● 500 million+ total users
● Over 288 million monthly active users
● 400 million ‘tweets’ sent per day, on average
● Significant audience to showcase
products/services
● Ability to cater product marketing
with # (Hashtag).
● Rapid transfer of information
● Active 2-way communication with users
(promotion/feedback)

8. 3.Instagram Stats
● 130 million+ total users
● 1000 user comments / second
● > 5 million photos uploaded daily
● 8000 photos ‘liked’ / second
● More than 16 billion photos already uploaded
● Ability to share media (pictures/videos) to
a large audience (promotion)
● Rapid transfer of information
● User input via comments (active feedback)

9. 4.Google+ Stats
● 500 million+ total users
● 343 million+ active users
● 60% users login daily, 80% users login
at least once weekly
● Over 67% male users (Not sure why this is?)
● Proven large active audience for
promotion/feedback
● Data shows that male users can be targeted effectively
● Overall, large male/female population
● Attached to gmail; previous paradigm was email,
email users naturally progress to social media;
potentially new users as time progresses

10. 5.YouTube Stats
● 1 billion+ unique monthly visitors
● Marketers can create ad campaigns
and manage them demographically using
sophisticated official software
● More viewers than television
viewers (in the U.S.)
● Broad audience to showcase/promote
services/products
● 2-way user interface via
comments (promotion/feedback)

11. Top 3 Fortune 500 Companies Using
Social Media
1. Target
1. Starbucks
1. SouthWest Airlines

12. 1.Target Social Media
Experience
● Uses Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest
● Showcases Products, careers,
Vine Chanel, Fashion Blog
● 23288268 fans on FaceBook, 1.41 million twitter followers,
15.3K Tweets, 35,429 youtube subscribers,
308 Youtube Videos
● On December 13, Target had a data breach;
responded quickly over social media (Twitter and Open Dialogue);
Postings included safety guidelines
● Customer service via social media; content and recruitment
● On Fortune 500, effective customer service,
diversity of social media platforms, interactive user interface
● Business success correlated with social media marketing

13. 2. Starbucks Social Media
Experience
• Uses Pintrest page called Starbucks Love. Instagram account which both are customer/fan submissions.
• 37,680,063 Fans on Facebook, 6,789,012 Followers on Twitter, 14,543,404 views on Youtube, 3.26 Million followers
on Instagram.
• Starbucks’ latest social media project called, #WhiteCupContest is the new fad, which asks patrons to submit images
of their decorated Starbucks paper cups.
• A very interactive social media experience when it comes to Starbucks, regarding their Twitter account, it is used to
educate followers on coffee culture and more.

14. 3. SouthWest Airlines Social Media
Experience
• Fun, laid back and bold Social media strategy.
• Uses Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Flickr.
• Purpose of their social media presence is to bring videos, vintage photos, travel tips and customer service
interactions for all customers and or future customers.
• 4,465,361 Facebook fans, 1,745,044 Twitter Followers, 87,449 Instagram Followers.
• Wins its customers loyalty because of the amazing role their social media allows them to represent themselves.
• Named #7 on the Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies 2013.

15. Overall Commonalities
A lot of commonalities in all these companies which ultimately leads to
their success. It’s the companies strong presence in social media and
being very interactive with the consumers as much as possible. Also its
letting the consumers interact and become really response with the
companies to ultimately win their loyalty. Showing what you’re doing to
help society, creates an image for companies and social media allows
public rep’s show just that.

16. Conclusion
Social media at this rate will remain the ultimate way to interact and
create awareness of your organization. Success is the major goal for all
companies and when reaching for success there are a few unfortunate
events which usually happens. Social media can help clear that and
give the company an opportunity to act diligently. You must have a
dominant and interactive presence in the on-line world to remain
relevant.

17. References / APA
• Pick, T. (2012, October 16). 87 More Vital Social Media Marketing Facts and Stats for 2012. Retrieved October 28,
2014.
• Ajmera, H. (2013, September 4). Social Media facts, figures and statistics 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
• Bendror, Y. (2014, February 10). Why Social Media Is So Important for Your Business in 2014. Retrieved October
28, 2014.
• Search for SouthWest | Social Media Statistics & Metrics. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2014.
• Search for Target | Social Media Statistics & Metrics. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2014.
• Search for Starbucks | Social Media Statistics & Metrics. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2014.