Social Media in Business
The data centre as we know it today is the fundamental component of the world’s technology infrastructure. Fortresses packed with vast and complex systems that can range anywhere up to over 1 million square feet. They are the unsung heroes that operate behind the scenes to give each and every one of us the power to access information. We have become so reliant on them that it is hard to imagine how different the world would be without them. Telling younger generations that you were born before the internet existed could simply leave them flabbergasted. To truly appreciate the data centre, we must look at its evolution. Back in the 1960’s, computer use began to develop commercially. We had large mainframes stored in equipment rooms that today we now refer to as ‘the datacentre’. These mainframes were state-of-the-art and cost astronomical amounts to maintain, and yet they were responsible for one of the greatest achievements in human history. On the 20th July 1969, these mainframes put a man on a moon with less computing power than you have on your smartphone.
Fast-forward to modern day and the data centre has become more than just a space for servers; it is the primordial ooze of the online community. Most of the world is now connected via the power of the internet, and nothing exerts influence over the way people share information quite like social media.
Until recently, social media was merely regarded as a hub for personal interactions, but now we see organisations embracing the platforms to connect with the consumer market. The likes of Facebook and Twitter provide businesses with an intimate stage to engage customers on a personal level and offer transparency into how they operate. Furthermore, these platforms can help to shape their brand by offering the company an insight into their market reach by building their online community.
Perhaps the most enticing attraction for businesses embracing social media, however, is that it can build brand awareness for very little capital expenditure. For many small businesses advertising campaigns simply aren’t a feasible option, but there have been many success stories born out of social networking. One notable example is the Cambridge Satchel Company. From humble beginnings, Julie Deane grew the company from her kitchen with a budget of just £600. Using social media to engage with fashion bloggers and consumers, the internet became her key to success.
This is what the data centre facilitates. No matter your market, no matter where you are in the world, the internet has the capacity to take your business to gargantuan heights.
Keep an eye out for Part Two of our Social Media blog series ‘The Power of the Internet’ next week.