Social Networks Report Analyzes Facebook, MySpace and Their Business Uses
1. Monica Xxxx, Sastry Xxxx, Ruth Xxxx,
Mary Xxxx, Christopher Xxxx.
February 24, 2009
Management Information Systems
Dr. Xxxx, XXX-XXXXX
2. Internet or mobile-based social spaces
where people can connect,
communicate,
create and share content
with others. 1
3. Social Networks - Types
Profile Virtual
Centered on information On-line, virtual interaction
about members
Content
Centered around specific
content
All logos are registered trademarks
4. Social Networks – Statistics 2
ftom Joshua Levine, Business Gets Social:
Corporate Usage of Web 2.0 Explodes,
January 08, 2008
5. Social Networks - Function
Common elements include:
Member profile
Ability to add members to contact list
Supported interaction between members
Must join the “network”
Members share a common interest
6. Social Networks - Function
Business opportunities include :
Target marketing
Focused customer service
Improved employee communication channels and productivity
May be used for screening candidates for employment
7. Facebook - Infrastructure
Founded in February 2004
A social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently
with their friends, family and coworkers
Digital mapping of a person’s social connections
Utilizes technologies that facilitate the sharing of information
No cost to sign up and people can interact with those they
know and trust
8. Facebook - Functionality
Core site functions include “Profile,” “Friends,” “Networks”
and “Inbox”
Includes standard tools such as “Photos,” “Notes,” “Groups,”
“Events” and “Posted items”
You can create an application, or upload an application
created by another Facebook member
9. Facebook - Design Technology
Uses the scripting language PHP to build dynamic pages
One of the largest MySQL installations using multi-language
RPC framework
Easily connects multiple subsystems written in any language,
running on any platform
It is the largest global user of the open-source caching system
memcached
10. Facebook - Interface Design
Offers a development platform enabling companies the
chance to deeply integrate with its website
(www.facebook.com) and access millions of users
Top priority is privacy, giving users the tools to control the
flow of their information
11. Social Networks - Sample
The Humane Society, the nation’s largest animal protection
organization
The Humane Society uses YouTube, Facebook and MySpace
to post updates, blogs and videos
As part of its Facebook page
Visitors learn about activities through video and blog posts
As part of its MySpace page visitors
Donate using a widget
Sign a petition to end the slaughter of horses
Read about the recall of pet food on its blog
12. Social Networks - Strengths
Build a strong community of customers/supporters and
employees
Market feedback/data collected by Facebook
Targeted advertising
Can create a business profile and special promotions
Test market new products or ideas
13. Social Networks - Strengths
Customer service
Provide support forum for customers
Post how-to videos for customers/users
Can use multiple mediums to promote brand awareness
Facebook, MySpace and YouTube are among the top ten most-
trafficked sites in the world and in the top five in the US with
90 million active users sited for Facebook3
14. Social Networks - Weaknesses
Sites are uncensored/open forum
Security
Competitors malicious activity
Dedicated resources of time and money
Uncertain future
15. Recommendation
Define clear strategies and objectives
Measure and understand results
Research and test the waters first
Monitor site
Gain a real understanding of the medium
Use tools such as Google Analytics or StatCounter to track
traffic volume
Face to face is still more productive for internal business
communication
16. Thank You - Questions
Footnotes
1. What are Social Networking Services, retrieved from
http://fraser.typepad.com/socialtech/files/social-networking-overview.pdf.
2. Social network statistics J. Levine (1/8/2008) retrieved from
http://seekingalpha.com/article/59369-business-gets-social-corporate-
web-2-0-usage-is-booming
3. Social network usage retrieved from Facebook fact sheet and
http://www.alexa.com/site/ds/top_sites?ts_mode=global&lang=none