Question

Search two social media channels and two blogging/microblogging channels that businesses can use to gain competitive advantage. Explain how each has changed the way information is communicated and used to influence social perception. In response to peers, discuss whether your organization or businesses within your field of study are using the social channels identified and whether these channels are effective in communicating with consumers and creating competitive advantage. Provide specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Answer 1

Two social media channels are Facebook and Instagram. Two blogging channels are Quora and LinkedIn.

Facebook and Instagram have changed the mode and way of connecting people. Celebrities and remarkable peoples use these social media channels and work as an influencer. They influence a lot of people or followers.

The current organization is using social channels to hunt the talents. Apart from it, it is also using the social media platform as a tool of promotion tool. By adopting various techniques to promote its business, the current organization is trying to obtain a competitive advantage.

The example of such ideas can be seen in different social media advertising where companies try to promote their brand and product.

Competitive advantage refers to the unique feature of an organization that cannot be replicated by the other firms in the industry and the organization enjoys benefits due to those features. Two social media channels that firms can use to gain competitive advantage are Facebook and Instagram. Also, firms can use blogging channels such as Quora and LinkedIn for the same purpose.

These channels have changed the way people communicate and share information. Nowadays, with the help of these Facebook and Instagram, people share their stories including traveling on a different location, use of different brands, opinions, and information. As social media channels are widely accessible, people gain this information at mass. Sharing, receiving, and decoding information is totally different now in comparison to the traditional time. Nowadays, it is more like fun to share any information or promote any brand. Similarly, Quora and LinkedIn have changed how the information of everything, from an issue to professional suggestion, can be obtained anytime, anywhere. Once, there was a time when expertise is so expensive. With the help of professional platforms such as LinkedIn, entrepreneurs and experts can guide the followers in their way to success.

The influence of the ideas is also now at a different peak. People follow their idols on social media. It can be a celebrity or any other great personality. Due to this, big brands establish a contract with such remarkable personalities and they promote these brands. Later, these brands are purchased by the followers. Also, any trend that gets viral on social media channels, affects the general public rapidly. Thus, social media channels and blogs influence the consumer market.

The business organization, Ducati, a bike company, utilizes these channels by promoting its product. The new and upcoming bikes such as Ducati Streetfighter V4 have been promoted intensely on the company's social media pages, especially on Instagram. As the product is quite unique and so does the selection of media platforms and ad campaigns, the company is gaining a competitive advantage over its rivals.

It is also providing information through Tweets and LinkedIn pages by updating current news of the automobile industry.