When you ask a college student whether or not they are apart of some kind of social network, a majority of them will say yes. Social networks are the one of the most popular activities that users take part in on the internet. These networks are now used for more than just chatting about common interests, they have developed the capabilities to upload pictures, view videos, play games, and much more. Sites like mySpace and facebook have become the new way to communicate and keep in touch with friends and family.
Marketers have now realized how big the social network market really is, and they are doing everything in their power to take advantage of this marketing opportunity. Many advertisements are now geared specifically for these networks, and appear on a user’s page depending on their interests, activities, age and gender. By creating these tailored ads, marketers are increading the probability that the user will notice the ad and possibly click thru to the ad’s desired landing page. Along with it’s social advertising, facebook also has a page in which marketers can choose how they want to market to users, and who they want to market to.
Facebook has recently come out with a new type of advertising, called social advertising, in which users can learn about businesses, brands, and products through their friends. It is almost a “word-of-mouth” type of advertisement. It also allows businesses to start up their own facebook page, and advertise their product by providing information, pictures, videos and music.
In my opinion, it is very benefical for marketers to target users that use social networks, as they are spending a lot of time on these networks. Since some marketers tailor their ads to fit the users’ profile, they will have better luck in achieving their desired result, and a click thru to the ad’s home page. However, with facebook introducing their new social advertising, users may feel as though their social network has gone from simple and fun, to corporate and over-advertised.
