Social media and social networks/networking – there is a difference

What are the types of social media and how can you utilise them for your business and why the heck is this post in a Blogmistress Blog?

First, the components (or ingredients) of social media -

• Blogs
• Video
• Forums
• Instant Messengers

are just a few of them, they are the CONTENT, think of them as the TV programs, they are independent of the Television itself, and you need a TV or appropriate NETWORK to read/watch them.

Social Networks, places like Facebook, BT Tradespace, LinkedIN, Smarta would be the TV sets in this analogy. The sets are made up differently from the programs it shows.

If you have a blog, you can use a social NETWORK to distribute your social MEDIA…. get it? Please say yes…

You film a video, upload it on Youtube, you distribute the video via Twitter, Facebook, your blog, social media and social networks working hand in hand, the social part is the sharing, the talking and the discussing – the action.

A social network is not social media, it can be a platform for social media as in it contains blogs and videos, but it’s not the media itself, it’s the aggregation of that media. That’s a big word for me.

Social networks are focused communities and social media is the chosen communication method.

Ok, one big word and lots of small ones. I think I have explained it – correct me where I am wrong please and add your opinions on the subject.

Sarah