Yes, it has finally happened - I have become a contributing member to the world of blogging! It completely scares me – talking to a friend and posting your thoughts online are two very different things! I mean I'm putting my opinions up for the people of the world to discuss, comment and even criticize. So why do it?
For my first post I thought why not start here.... What's the deal with blogs anyway?
Social media has opened the door to an era of self promotion where people 'brand themselves’ proclaiming who they are and what they stand for in an online forum. Just like in the real world, individuals are differentiating themselves on the internet – by what network they join, who their friends are, what they like and what information they choose to share with the people they are connected to.
Many of my friends have started blogs and swear by them – they see them as a way to express yourself, share your passions and maintain your views and opinions about your world. I guess this is the difference isn’t it, social media has joined people based on the details of their ‘own worlds’, with blogs the tools that instigate conversation.
In my opinion what being online converts to is a battle for credibility. Rather than just using social media to share the details of our lives with others, we vie for the approval of our circles, our friends, and our followers. It’s about doing what’s cool before its cool, being the first to circulate a funny video or starting a group that sparks the interest of millions of people around the world.
....and social media marketing takes advantage of this, leveraging the power of a single persons opinion, creating market value for fans, and utilising the ‘network effect’ to the benefit of millions of companies around the globe.
So I guess in this aspect when it comes to blogging we should be asking why not?
Over the next 13 weeks I aim to understand the phenomenon of social media marketing.... and maybe even decipher some of the online chatter.
So let’s get to gabbing....... why do you blog and why do you follow others online?
Well done Sonika - a great start, and I love the reflective writing style. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading more of your views and opinions over the coming months.
I blog because I'm enrolled in the same unit as you! haha! Having signed up to Mashable since class started, I see the benefits of blogging. That particular blog is extremely informative and has prompted me to search around for more blogs when looking at other things of interest.
ReplyDeleteRoss