Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Role of ICT, Digital Media, Social Media & SEO in Your Daily Life

Digital Marketing with CFA: DigitalSENSE Business News

MOST individuals frequently shy away from investing their time in ICT, digital media, social media, SEO, etc for either of these two common factors: they simply lack the time desired, or they may not possess the financial resources necessary for hiring experienced professionals who are skillfully trained in their respective areas of specialisation.

Yet, it is pertinently so, especially when it comes to your business: building an effectual online presence is crucial to your online promotion and branding. As a universally accepted principle, there are no two diverse views regarding the vital role executed by a truly strong online presence in increasing your digital influence and broad-ranging reach. In the world of ICT, digital media, social media & SEO today, it is doubtlessly your online presence that helps garnish more leads, and hence conversions, owing to greater brand awareness.
According to a survey recently carried out under the auspices of Forrester Research, as much as a good 70% of all consumers have a considerably stronger tendency to show greater conviction in brand recommendations through close friends and colleagues. Now let’s proceed to the next step by asking ourselves a very simply and rather straightforward question: where would you believe consumers are generally spending more of their prime time when they wish to ask for good recommendations? As a matter of fact, a simple and straightforward answer obviously would be on the ICT, digital media, social media, SEO, and other similar platforms, of course!
ICT:
Academic researchers are well known to have been making general use the collective phrase ‘Information Communications Technology’, or ICT as it is more commonly known, since the early 1980s, though it gained universal popularity towards close of the last century.
Today, the term is also used when reference is made to an opportune convergence between the telephones networks and audio-visual with the more elaborate computer networks via a single link or cabling system. This innovative integration of computer networking systems with state of the art telephone networks, building management and audio-visual using just a single cohesive system of management, signal distribution and cabling brings forth vast economic incentives, in the form of substantive savings in cost due to the elimination of a telephone network.
In normal everyday circumstances, ‘Infocommunications’ is a frequently used interchangeable term for ICT. In a real sense, Infocommunications can said to be expansion of content handling and information processing functions with telecommunications on a base common with digital technology.
ICT Technological Capacity:
Global technological capacity for storing information increased from 2.6 exabytes (optimally compresses) in the mid 1980s to 295 exabytes (optimally compresses) by 2007, which In CD-ROM terms is comparable to an informational equivalent of 404 billion in number. With an average thickness of 1.2 mm per CD, stacking them up one atop the other would have created a pile that could reach the moon from the earth, and a good quarter of the distance beyond. By mid 1980s, global technological capacity for receiving information via broadcast networks working one-way was 432 exabytes of information (optimally compresses) in the mid 1980s, which took a leap to 1.9 zettabytes (optimally compresses) by 2007. On the other hand, by mid 1980s, global effective capacity for exchanging information via telecommunication networks working two-way was 281 petabytes of information (optimally compresses), which jumped in 2007 to 65 exabytes (optimally compressed). In end result, global technological capacity for computing information with general-purpose humanly guided computers has seen a phenomenal rise in the last three or so decades.
Digital Media:
The discussion on digital media falls into what may be termed a much wider process of thinking that propositions the use of technology for developmental intentions. Furthermore, it may even perceptibly be recognised as a precept of socio-economic development which is made up of an unremitting process that transforms the inner working protocol of the society as one single entity, including its cultural, political, social and economic organisation.
Though everyone uses digital media in their daily lives, from office computers to home TVs, and in some forms of modern art as well, like photography, etc, there are several advantages as well as disadvantages that at the end of the day almost balance out.
Starting with distinct advantages of the digital media, it is impossible to ignore the convenience and speed associated with it. Many of us are accustomed to using digital media because it simply saves a lot more time in comparison to the old analog media versions. Today larger quantities of work are achievable in comparatively shorter spans of time; with hardly any break on TV, games and CDs.
Yet, one exasperating disadvantage of digital media may be considered its ‘bit rate’ limitations. Implication of this, when compared to other media, is that the information on real time is not significantly great. Live broadcasts come short of delivering acceptably good quality. Working on computers and while browsing the Internet, web pages require persistent refreshing when searching new information.
Social Media:
Social media opens up doors that were fairly inconceivable just a few years ago. Given that as a fact, with a tiny bit of imagination and the determination to achieve results there is so much that you can now do on your own. Then again, if you are able to get professional help, it will not only help in making your job that much easier but also put you miles ahead of the competition. Now, isn’t that really what we would all be the happiest to realize?
Selecting the branding or marketing agency that is perfect for you or your business is often an intricate affair. The agency you decide to work with will gain the privilege of freely handling your precious brand – tinker with it, mould it and possibly stretch it, as they deem fit. It’s your right to aspire the result to produce something new and startling, but still in line with planned strategy and result oriented. You may choose to reach for the most highly reputed agency, but great reputation comes with a price tag. Will a new agency that seems promising also have the desired experience level? Digital design companies that are tech-heavy may have limited know-how concerning traditional media practices. Traditional businesses may be less familiar when it comes to digital media. Yet, you need someone who possesses the right social and digital media skills because this is the area where you are most likely to unravel your greatest opportunities.
In a nutshell, you want your agency to produce creative content. As professionals, they must excel at achieving tone and be persuasive. Should they succeed in targeting the right results for you, they will naturally make great partners for you. You should thus not have any hesitations in rewarding them aptly their well deserved labours. After all, going viral isn’t a phenomenon that’s to be done. It’s a product of the alignment of your selected agency’s outstanding creativity with related business targets, audience interest and distinguished competitive positioning.
Find the right agency and you will gain access to an entirely new world of social media hitherto unknown to you.
SEO:
It’s a known fact that all businesses need SEO. Do you consider the money spent on SEO as an uncalled for expense or a real time investment? If applied in a correct perspective, SEO has the inherent potential to attract more customers; enabling your business to turn out far better profits compared to what it presently does. Easier said than done, I suppose? SEO nevertheless takes a lot more expertise and resolve. One of the best places where you will find assistance and reliable information is obviously through an efficiently managed SEO service provider. Right guidance will however help you in making a good initial start.
Liberate Your SEO Staff:
Should your own business have some in-house SEO staff, chances are they will be burdened with responsibilities. A small contingent of experts tasked to handle your entire SEO infrastructure is likely to find their scanty resources quickly thinning out. Although regular maintenance checks and appropriate handling of software updates are among routine tasks to be periodically attended to, these may be consuming up a lot more than necessary of your SEO staff’s working time, thus laying to waste their highly useful skills that could otherwise be used efficiently for benefit of the long term health and wellbeing of your business.
It is essential to free your SEO staff for carrying out other significant projects, while outsourcing your basic SEO tasks to an outside professional agency.
Conclusion:

On the long run, both your calendar and marketing plan are principally intended to function as fluid documents. Though, it is reasonable to expect that you have deftly mapped out every inch of your ICT, digital media, social media, SEO, etc. for the remaining part of the year, it is never too late to induct useful chances, especially if that means revitalising plans for the betterment of your business sake. We have all heard the wise man’s words: “A stitch in time saves nine!”
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

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