Generation Y, also known as myself and my fellow students, are constantly Updating our "Status'" and "Tweeting" about what color shoes we're wearing today; who knew that our knowledge within this sector of the internet could lead to a possible career path? Companies are now realizing how important social media is in todays business world, especially within consumer products. If a customer is sitting on a delayed flight, they're more than likely tweeting about the poor service they are receiving; but if a company knows how to track this media they can deal with it and even get a chance to change that customers point of view. This is where social media monitoring and analytics comes in. Ryan Finn talks about this up and coming field, and how it is improving the way companies are getting the information they need quicker and directly from the consumer. Companies go to companies, like NetBase, and are using social media analytics software to find out detailed information that is floating around the internet. Finn talks about how a consumer products company wanted to find out why men wear stubble, the NetBase software was able to read, analyze more than 50,000 sentences; it then isolated what the company was looking for, categorized it, ranked in, along with reason in a matter of seconds. The NetBase software is used by major companies such as Coca Cola, Proctor and Gamble, and Kraft Foods; to get an inside look into the consumers mind. Companies are increasing their spending, by about 24%, in this field, this not only includes using the software, but teaching their employees on how to use these social media sites to better their businesses.
Today not only is the internet an expected part of most of the populations life, but so are the social media sites on it. Social media has become a part of Generation Y's daily life, and is quickly expanding to other generations. This makes it the perfect way to find for companies to find the opinions of their consumers, and also gives them the opportunity to find out how to change those opinions. It seems today that a persons life is published on the internet, it has become the new, and constantly updating, biography of the online population of the world. Making it the place to not only find out information on consumers, but a way to attract consumers. The many faces of social media on the internet are great ways to advertise a product, almost for free. As a member of generation Y I will admit to being on my Facebook, Twitter, and favorite blogs daily. So hearing about how social media monitoring is an up and coming field within the business world is very encouraging. As said in the article "We’re Not in Kansas Anymore – New Careers in Social Media for Gen-Y" by Tiffany Harrison on USA Today blog, social media monitors are not just people who understand the basic uses of these social media filters, but those who can get information from the sites. This, in my eyes, gives my generation an extra edge in the job market because we have been around this media for years, and have fully acquainted ourselves with what there is to know about these sites. So even if we don't go into the specific field of social media analysis we already know we will have another way to get information that other employees in our field may not.
The world of social media is something that companies will need to have a strong understanding of if they want to keep up with their customers in today's growing markets.
Sources:
Wanted: Social Media Sifters
We’re Not in Kansas Anymore – New Careers in Social Media for Gen-Y
I find it very interesting that people are now recognizing managing social media as a career. While this is something former generations would have never imaged, this is an easy grasped concept for our generation y because we are all so immersed in our social media and using our technology. I feel like for our generation managing a facebook or twitter account could never really feel like a job, it is just something that may be a small part of our job just as our personal facebook is a small part of our real lives. I don't mean to devalue the possibilities that facebook and other social media sites offer to businesses because I really believe social media is acting as a bridge and is closing the gap between business and the consumer. I just want to point out that I don't think there is a skill in being about to create a facebook account. The real test is to create a page that will help connect you customers to your company, and use the information you gather from social media to better your business.The possibilities are endless for both big business and smaller businesses.
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