Twitter and Corporations

The face of public relations and advertising has begun to change as not just individuals have hopped on the stream of social networking, but so have corporations.In the last year, work usage through Facebook was at 39%, while Twitter usage was 700%. These accounts and streams are keeping viewers constantly updated on their products, new developments, and feeding into any craves that viewers have. Because of this new culture of consumerism, the internet content has exploded with new advertising and public relations strategies in hope that the consumer to open their wallets.

Social Media is a Must for Business, BrandReact.com

A recent Washington post article stated that Twitter usage at work jumped 700 percent last year, the recent study found that bandwidth of Twitter did increase inside corporations. Still the study found that 39% of social networking was through Facebook, this study is one of many that finds that these new social media websites are bursting at the seems with new content and users from large corporations looking to always get their message and word out to the masses. The internet has become a source for new branding with hash tags and the ability to track trending on these websites. Many corporations like Walgreens have resorted to buy promoted tweets and created hash tags for its users to use in the possibility to wining prizes or other incentives. This new strategy is spelled out in the RICG article; Ecommerce, Social Becomes Brands' Weapons in Competition Wars. And they aren't alone with companies like Verizon Wireless and Wal-mart following suit. This seems to be the beginning as social media is becoming the advertising for this generation. 

Tim Mohin, director of corporate responsibility for Advanced MicroDevices, agrees that social media gives more than just a new way to get to advertise but a way of connecting with his companies stakeholders.

Now Facebook and Twitter are essential communication tools  for any program. Social media opens a way for stakeholder to interact directly with a company's program. Through social media, companies  gain a following of people who are interest in their performance and can keep tabs on stakeholder sentiment on any emerging issues. These tools are still very new, and no company has perfected their use, but is clear that social media is a game you cannot afford sit out.

The evidence is becoming clearer and clearer as time goes on that social media sites like Facebook and Twitter will be the  new way of communicating with consumers, stakeholders, and advertising. If corporations want to stay on top and ahead of their competitors they will have to expand their visions and prepare to make new changes to accommodate with the trends as the tweets continue to roll in and along with the money flow that is behind these social networking phenomena. 

Changed as of March 22, 2012