Organizational Uses

Social Media has been said to be the "name of the game" for marketing, advertising, and raising product awareness. We have seen social media usage explode in the last few years including usage for presidential campaigns. It is an ever changing and adapting world for different social media outlets. Businesses large and small can and do use social media to raise awareness. One idea behind the beauty of social media is the idea of tapping in to peoples social networks. "If you know one person, you know the world" this is a popular idea behind networking sales as well as for advertising via Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and more. One company that is taking advantage of social media outlets is Denik. Denik is a company that was started by USU students. The company works with artists from around the globe to use their work on the covers of notebooks and journals. The company not only provides fun and unique products, but they donate one dollar of every piece of merchandise sold to building schools internationally and within the USA. With close to no budget for advertising, Denik has capitalized on the free social media services to market their products and tap in to peoples social networks to raise awareness of their products.
Another point of the beauty about social media are the different groups that can use it. Not only can large corporate businesses utilize it, but non-profit organizations can utilize it. One organization that fights against children soldiers in Uganda has used Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media venues to raise awareness. The organization states that change is not expected to occur solely online, but it definitely helps assist in bringing about change.
Just because a few companies have done well with social media doesnt mean it is necessarily the best thing for your company. According to one article on techsoup.org it is important that businesses discuss if social media is the best for them. Though social media holds much of the lime light these days, it is not the only way for businesses to successfully market their ideas, products or services. It is up to companies to evaluate whether social media is best for them or to pursue other means of marketing, advertising. There is certainly more than one way to peel a potato as well as market your ideas, products and services.
http://philanthropy.com/article/How-Nonprofits-Can-Use-Social/126402/
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page7935.cfm