Chapter 9: Social Buzz and Viral Phenomena: Part B

Web 2.0 and Social Media for Business 2nd Edition

Roger McHaney, Kansas State University

Alternate Social Media Approaches

Web sites such as StumbleUpon and Reddit have become giants on the Web. Both provide venues for finding and sharing interesting material. For a business, this can mean publicity, new customers and free exposure.

http://www.mysocialagency.com/social-media/how-to-drive-website-traffic-from-stumbleupon

StumbleUpon

StumbleUponStumbleUpon is designed to help a user “discover new and interesting stuff on the Web” Users provide basic information about likes (a marketer’s dream come true) and are given a journey to relevant Web sites, videos, blogs, photos and other material The more other users like a page, the higher it is rated and it is more likely to be viewed by more ‘Stumblers’. User profiles become more specific and better tailored as they provide feedback on pages

StumbleUponStumbleUpon drives over 50 percent of its traffic to the rest of the Web

Offers a great way to get people to link to a business site for comments and to boost subscriber numbers

Surpassed 25th million click in August 2011

Tracks over 3 million sites

Business Use of StumbleUpon

From: The Hatcher Group, 2008

From: The Hatcher Group, 2008

Paid Discovery at StumbleUpon

Reddit Known for its openness and diverse user community

Premise: Users submit content (text-based posts, images, links or other items)Most posts are discussion related or controversial statementsUsers vote posts up or downMost popular posts reach the Reddit’s front pageComments to the posts can also be voted up or down

Web site divided into subject areas called subreddits Often used to raise public awareness regarding issuesOften considered revolutionary Provides a platform for individuals to build a followingReddit users turned off by self-promotion

Why Reddit?• Used by businesses to

promote blog or other content

• An article can be submitted and voted up resulting in even more readers

• Reddit works best with well written informative content, particularly when it has a social conscience

• Negative side: Reddit communities criticized for hive mindset and negative aspects of group interaction, crowd psychology and collective consciousness

Why Reddit?• Unique • Interesting to businesses: Reaches engaged individuals • Users predisposed to leaving comments and participating in

dialog

Paid AdvertisingProvides paid advertising service. Allows business to reach those reading and posting in particular subreddit areas. Reddit ads also include comment threads where viewers can discuss the ad and the product being advertised.

Reddit Business Hints

More Reddit Business Hints

End ofChapter 9 Part B

Web 2.0 and Social Media for Business 2nd Edition

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Slides Prepared by Professor Roger McHaney Kansas State UniversityTwitter: @mchaneyBlog: http://mchaney.comEmail : mchaney@ksu.edu