The Main Differences Between Social Media and Social Networking

The Internet is undoubtedly a library of information, but the web is buzzing with other interesting activities these days. The online world has evolved into a place where business transactions happen - arranging holidays, booking tickets, banking, shopping and many more activities are performed online.  Various terminologies have evolved based on the type of transaction. Two of the zillion terminologies have sparked my interest for discussion – “Social media” and “Social networking”. These have had adequate impact on communication, marketing, business and other disciplines. Many think that social media and social networking are the same, but there are differences between them. Let us discuss the differences in detail:

Meaning

Social Media
The first thing that springs to mind when we say social media is Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,                         Pinterest and more. So what do we do with these networks? These social media platforms are used to share information and communicate using advanced methods. Social media are used to share videos, blogs, photos and more.

Social Networking
Connecting with other people is called Social Networking. People who share common interests join together and form a community to interact and share knowledge on a particular subject. This helps build relationships.

Method of Communication

Social Media
Social media is the modern way of communicating with friends and family. Similar to mobile phones, these deliver instant messages and circulate information among its users. Social media does not stop with messages; videos and photos can also be circulated.

Social Networking
Social networking enables two-way communication. People with similar experiences join together and discuss about a specific topic. Knowledge is shared and healthy relationships are built. This method works best for business and marketing.

Investment Returns

Social Media
It is rather difficult to calculate ROI (return on Investment) from social media. Deriving a numeric value based on online conversations is not an easy task. The means to measure ROI from social media are completely different when compared to social networking. For example: measuring the depth of conversations.

Social Networking
When there is steady growth in the traffic to your website, you should know that social networking is the reason behind it. Socialize more to enjoy the benefits of your efforts. More traffic means more business.

Growth

Social Media
Individual conversations cannot be automated and there is no guarantee that these conversations are useful. Making thousands of people follow your brand or product is not possible unless you are a renowned brand.

Social Networking
This can communicate with the people who are in the community or group. The conversations are useful, informative and personal. Your network grows and your business grows when you meet others.

Ethics

Social Media
Manipulating comments is the biggest mistake in social media. Requesting family members, friends, colleagues and others to vote is a dishonest practice.

Social Networking
This is a great way to discuss your business and get innovative ideas to achieve success. Healthy conversations create a wonderful atmosphere, which in turn brings lots of fans. Every minute you spend on social networking reaps benefits.
Social media and social networking have a thin line of difference. Hope the above differences helped in understanding social platforms better. Take full advantage of these platforms to excel in your business. 

This is a guest post by Travis Ramsy of Buycharter.com, a site that offers savings and current information on  charter communications, as well as charter.com services