Social Media as an Advertisement Tool: Strategical Need of Being More Experiential

Introduction

The advertising landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, and nowhere is this more visible than it is online. The advertising industry has long sought to go where consumers go. Indeed the industry has followed consumers online, and even developed new forms of advertising to relate consumers in their virtual reality(Tuten, 2008, p.1)With millions of users worldwide, it raises the question of what types of people rely on these online social media tools in their interactions with others. Previous research has established three personality traits that are central to social media use: extraversion, neuroticism, and openness to experience (Ross et al., 2009; Zywica & Danowski, 2008; as cited in Correa, Hinsley and Zuniga, 2010, p.247). The concept of Social Media is top of the agenda for many business executives today. Decision makers, as well as consultants, try to identify ways in which firms can make profitable use of applications such as Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, Second Life, and Twitter (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010, p. 59). The social media phenomenon, can now significantly impact a firm’s reputation, sales, and even survival. Yet, many executives eschew or ignore this form of media because they do not understand what it is, the various forms it can take, and how to engage with it and learn(Kietzmann, Hermkens, & Mc Charty, 2011, p. 254).Therefore we can see a new business opportunity as “social media specialists” deal and handle with the complexity of this platform.

According to Kim and Ko (2012), five constructs of perceived social media marketing activities of luxury fashion brands are entertainment, interaction, trendiness, customization, and word of mouth (p.1480) . Their effects on value equity, relationship equity, and brand equity are significantly positive. According to Urry (1990, p. 248) the images, videos, and films available through the various systems provide various messages that represent destinations and serve as mediators of tourist experiences. Urry (1990) argues: ‘‘-people are tourists most of the time, whether they are literally mobile or only experience simulated mobility through the incredible fluidity of multiple signs and electronic images (as cited in Tussyadiah & Fesenmaier, 2009, p. 24).

Cultural aspects must be considered during advertising process in social media platform according to countries and local habitats of consumers as well. For example in the USA, the number of Facebook users is around 135 million people, while in Turkey, it is more than 30 million. When these two countries are compared, it is easily determined that time spent by people is different due to different cultural indicators.