Week 6 EOC "Social Networks and Job Hunting"

Whether it is an electronic purchase, or a good reference, a good word from a close friend or associate may sometimes be more respected than a review from top manufacturers.  These days people seem to have more respect for their peers than someone who is older, wiser in the subject, and marketers are taking notice.  People enjoy sharing what makes them happy.   Marketers have taken this idea and put it to their use, as if tapping into our intellect and probing what we as consumers want was not good enough.  Now, marketers have our peers, other consumers telling us what we want. “Marketers are now working to harness the newfound communications power of their everyday customers, turning them into influential brand ambassadors.” Armstrong & Kotler (2011). Marketing: An Introduction, 10th Ed. Prentice Hall Publishing pg 143.  Marketers are now searching blogs and social networks to find consumers who are brand loyal and passionate about the companies’ products.  They are then training these people with proper product knowledge and then having them tap into their social circles using different forms of media.  Calling them brand ambassadors and rewarding them with the newest products before they hit the market, creating interests among the masses.  Marketers aren’t the only ones using social network sites to reach consumers, job boards are trying to tap into Facebook’s Inc. 750 million something users to find the perfect candidate.  “The majority of social-media traffic to Waste Management Inc.'s careers website comes from Facebook, beating out LinkedIn, said Jenny DeVaughn, manager of social media and employment branding. The Houston-based environmental services company is currently trying to fill 1,500 positions—from software developers to garbage truck drivers.” Wall Street Journal (2011) Job Recruiters Turn to Facebook to Find Candidates - WSJ.com.  Companies can post videos, create discussion boards and user groups, creating interests in their company.  Using a social network site for recruiting may sound simple, but companies have to hire someone to work and update the social network platform.