The benefits of social media

by Paige Roberts

As hard as it may be, consider a world without social media. The early 2000s were the turning point for the widespread phenomena of social media. However, not only has social media changed the way we spend our time on the Internet, it also transformed the world of Public Relations. 

Before social media, breaking news stories would already be a day old once published in the next day’s newspaper. With the help of Twitter, breaking news can be tweeted out to an account’s followers in a matter of seconds. With the help of Facebook, there is less of a need for focus groups. Companies can use their Facebook account to have two-way communication to gain feedback from their users. 

Twitter and Facebook are only two of the popular social media sites that have been created. In a matter of 14 years, social media has managed to change the world of Public Relations from sending a “fax-blast” press release to sending a simple 140-character tweet. Having to collect a group of people for a lengthy focus group, to a Facebook chat with a consumer. What’s the next social media innovation coming our way? And what will happen to Public Relations when it comes? 

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