HI6008 - A Reflective Essay on Social Media in Business Context

This essay presents a self-reflection on the advantages and disadvantages of using social media in business, particularly within the context of the HI6008 course. It explores the effectiveness and usefulness of learning about social media's impact on business, highlighting its role in increasing sales, revenues, and customer engagement. The reflection also acknowledges the potential negative impacts of social media, such as adverse customer feedback and data leakage. The essay further discusses the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods in understanding the topic and concludes with insights on how this learning can be applied in the future to enhance business strategies through effective social media utilization. The assignment also highlights the importance of continuous brand promotion and building customer loyalty through social media.

Running Head: Self reflection 1
Business research
Self reflection on social media advantages and disadvantages

Self reflection 2
Contents
Overview.....................................................................................................................................................3
Effectiveness and your usefulness of the learning experience.....................................................................3
Usefulness of learning process....................................................................................................................3
Activity in the learning process...................................................................................................................4
Evaluation of the learning............................................................................................................................4
Explanation of the learning process.............................................................................................................4
Applied learning..........................................................................................................................................5
References...................................................................................................................................................6

Self reflection 3
Overview
Social media plays an integral role in developing the business all over the world. I have found
that the use of social media has been taken why number of business to increase the sales and
revenues of the companies significantly. It is considered as the cost effective strategy that
connect many people with each other without any cost. Along with that I have analyse that many
customers are using social media networking tools to find out the desired products and services.
Effectiveness and your usefulness of the learning experience
It has been observed by me that the effectiveness and the usefulness of the research regarding
advantages and disadvantages of social media in businesses in which I have found that the use of
social media has been increasing day by day. Through social media networks, organization could
develop effective relations with the customers along with developing brand loyalty by providing
same features, quality and advantages as shown in the advertisement and promotional
campaigns. I have learnt that social media networks provide a freedom of speech to its users
through which one can share and learn various things (Stephen and Galak, 2012).
Usefulness of learning process
In this course, I have learnt that social media networking has a significant role in increasing the
productivity of the employees as well as the organization. This research program is useful for me
as I attained information about the importance of the social media in various businesses which
will be helpful for me to implement an effective strategy in my business with taking help of
social media marketing tool. I have analyzed throughout my learning process that social media

Self reflection 4
has some negative impacts on the business which can lead them to an adverse situation (Cheston,
Flickinger and Chisolm, 2013).
Activity in the learning process
I have taken the combination of qualitative and quantitative approach to collect the data
regarding the research topic in the learning process. I have gone through the various journal
articles, books and online sources in which I have found that there are some negative impacts of
social media networking which can be improved by taking the effective approach. I have
observed that the negative feedback can impact the entire business in an adverse manner (Diga
and Kelleher, 2009). I have observed that the company should try to make the good image in the
view of the customers as the customer rating has an effective roll in decreasing the revenues of
the company
Evaluation of the learning
The business research was useful for my research learning program as it helps me to get
knowledge about the concept of the research topic. I come to know that there are various benefits
of social media networking which can lead the business at a higher position. Ineffective use of
social media networking tool in the business can lead the organization at lower level. The active
social connection with brands can have tended to have loyal customers. I have analyzed that the
promotion of brand with the help of social media can enhance the brand loyalty and customers
can remain attached to the company if brand promotion made on the continuous way (Correa,
Hinsley and Zuniga, 2010).

Self reflection 5
Explanation of the learning process
The reason behind conducting separate assignment for the business research is to increase my
knowledge regarding the research topic. I have found that the role of both assignments are
different from each other as assignment one has given knowledge about the literature review of
the research topic (Treem and Leonardi, 2013). On the other hand, another research assignment
has given information regarding the use of research methodology together with the data for the
advantages and disadvantages of social media.
Applied learning
This learning will be applied by me in the future to increase my knowledge in relation to the use
of social media in the business. I would be getting benefited by this research due to involvement
of wide aspects of social media strategy. I have found with the help of learning process that
Leakage of confidential data and credentials of organization is another big disadvantage of using
social media networks. I have gained knowledge regarding various companies that use social
media platform for increasing the centre of attraction of the customers’ towards the services and
products.

Self reflection 6
References
Cheston, C.C., Flickinger, T.E. and Chisolm, M.S. (2013). Social media use in medical
education: a systematic review. Academic Medicine, 88(6), pp.893-901.
Correa, T., Hinsley, A.W. and De Zuniga, H.G. (2010). Who interacts on the Web?: The
intersection of users’ personality and social media use. Computers in Human
Behavior, 26(2), pp.247-253.
Diga, M. and Kelleher, T. (2009). Social media use, perceptions of decision-making power, and
public relations roles. Public Relations Review, 35(4), pp.440-442.
Stephen, A. T., and Galak, J. (2012). The effects of traditional and social earned media on sales:
A study of a microlending marketplace. Journal of Marketing Research, 49(5), 624-639.
Treem, J.W. and Leonardi, P.M. (2013). Social media use in organizations: Exploring the
affordances of visibility, editability, persistence, and association. Annals of the
International Communication Association, 36(1), pp.143-189.