Social Media Marketing and Web 2.0

Social Media Marketing is a new, emerging concept, which started with the foundation of Web 2.0. Networking allowed millions of people to be connected and it allowed individuals to interact with one another, forming a new kind of relationships online. In present day, companies promote their products by joining these networks and/or forums and it has largely impacted the marketing industry and their strategy.

Google is one of the pioneer business corporations that successfully integrated their marketing scheme within the web. The design of the Google Search for example displays a mass number of advertisement by AdSense. AdSense is a marketing tool created by Google to give advertising opportunities to individuals and companies. It dedicates a space in Google Search to expose products to consumers to provoke purchase. Users of Google Search will most likely be affected even by a glimpse of ads thrown to their screens. In 2011 1^st quarter, Google earned US $2.34 billion through AdSense, which is 28% of the company’s total revenue. The figures are growing and are proven to be effective in implementing social media as their marketing tool. It is regarded as one of the highly successful business model today. If a user types ‘Tah’ it automatically shows ‘5-star Tahiti Resorts’. Google fetches the ads from their AdSense program and promptly delivers it on the right side of their search site. The web design of Google is what triggers the users to be covertly brainwashed.

Social networking sites such as Facebook also implemented this model, only more engaging. As a social networking site, it allows products to further engage with users. Facebook not only has their integrated AdSense within the website, but also a Facebook page dedicated to brands and manufacturers displaying promotions of their products. Users can also ‘Like’ the page, similar to ‘Follow’ in Twitter, and get various update feeds about the company or product the user has chosen. Furthermore, by commenting or posting, all of the users’ ‘friends’ connections are able to view the message, thereby reaching more people. Social networking sites act as word of mouth, approaching more and more people by simply placing an advertisement or creating a page dedicated to their product. I believe Social media marketing has enabled companies to interact with individuals and it granted a feeling of loyalty to users that are connected to the their marketing.