What is media sharing?

Web 2.0 technologies have also made it easier than ever to post and share media across a variety of social networks and other digital platforms. Advances in user interface design have made it possible for people to post and share photos and videos, music, applications, and other kinds of media almost instantly, with minimal to no technical experience required.

Media sharing has made it possible for individuals and businesses alike to expand their influence and reach. But to use media sharing effectively, you need know how to use each media channel so that your content and messages reach the right audiences. Here’s a quick overview of the most popular media sharing sites, and how you can use each one:

Photo Sharing Sites

These sites allow you to upload photos so you can share them easily with others. You can categorize and tag photos to make it even easier for people to search your photos. Websites such as Photobucket, Picasa, and Flickr are the most popular. Most of these have mobile apps that allow you to integrate them to your social media sites, but there are also other sites such as Instagram that instantly upload photos to you social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. You can also use apps to publish and link to your photos automatically to your Facebook page, blog, and other social media sites.

Video Sharing Sites

Video technology has become incredibly easy to use—these days, you can make your own video in minutes just using your smart phone. You Tube is the mothership of all video sites. Vimeo is also popular, especially with more creative types. Both sites allow you to upload and share videos with others in minutes. As with photos, there are apps that allow you to publish your video content to your Facebook page.

Videoconferencing, presentation, and slide sharing

While nothing can replace a face-to-face meeting, today’s video conferencing and slide sharing services allow you to hold web-based meetings whenever you need to. Companies such as Go To Meeting offer videoconferencing services that give you “face time” with your clients, and applications such as Slideshare and Brainshark make it very easy to share presentations in an interactive, online format.

Social Bookmarking and Wiki sites

Social bookmarking sites allow you to share and explore websites with others. Digg, Delicious, and Stumbleupon are among the most popular. These sites track the sites you follow and, based on your interests, suggest others you may like so you can expand your web horizons. They also allow you to connect you with others who have similar interests, so you can increase your social media profile.

Wiki sites allow you to collaborate with others to create, edit, and publish web content. Similar to blogs, wikis are easy to establish and maintain using wiki software. But, the main difference between a blog and a wiki is that many people can contribute to and edit a wiki site, while a blog usually has much tighter editorial and publishing controls. Wikipedia is the most well known Wiki sites.

Video games and Home game consoles

Online video games such as Quake were at the forefront of social media, and video games have only increased their strength and influence over the years. There seems to be no end to the kinds of games people can play online (Farmville, anyone?), and how they can be played. Your home Play Station or Xbox console allows you to connect with any number of fellow gamers anywhere. Facebook and Zynga are the combined kings of social gaming online, and mobile apps make it easier for anyone to play just about any game, anywhere.

Incorporating these techniques into your media strategy will enhance your brand and expose your audience to different “flavors” of your brand. The content and media you share takes on different contexts and meanings based on the outlet you choose, and maintaining them will take effort. But no matter which one you choose, it will increase your presence online and give you more opportunities to interact with your audience.