A History of Social Networking and Its Influence on Social Media

          In the early morning hours of March 4, 1971, I was born.  The same year saw the birth of email - two computers sitting side-by-side communicating for the first time.  Not as Earth-shattering as the first images of man walking on the moon two years earlier but the implications of this seemingly insignificant moment would prove to be the spark that ignited the launch of social networking and, ultimately, social media as we know it today.

Photo Credit: Jackie's Page

Social Media & Social Networking Defined

Many argue as to whether this moment in history truly was the birth of social networking. To answer this, we first need take a look at what the term “social networking” means and why it isn’t synonymous with “social media”. Social networking is the act of engaging with like-minded people with the purpose of sharing knowledge, while social media provides the vehicle for us to share this information. Confusing? Here’s another distinction between the two: try to view social networking as a verb, denoting what we do online, and social media as a noun, the network of online platforms that enable us to do what we do online.

"In the Land of Lynfred": How Lynfred Winery promotes its brand awareness through blogging

Lynfred Winery, Roselle, Illinois

“My entire blog ‘In the Land of Lynfred’ (a word play on ‘In the Land of Lincoln’ since we are in Illinois ) is really about the lifestyle that comes with working at and being a patron of your local winery – we’re fun, a little kooky and very approachable.”

Christina Anderson-Heller, Marketing Director
Lynfred Winery
Roselle, Illinois 

A True “Mom-and-Pop” operation becomes a nationally renowned winery

             A pioneer of the Illinois wine industry, Fred Koehler made his debut batch of wine in the basement of his Roselle home in 1975.  With his ingenuity along with the creativity and encouragement of his late wife, Lynn, Fred continued to craft quality wines in their renovated basement for four more years. When the “Mom-and-Pop” operation outgrew the couple’s basement, Fred and Lynn opened up Illinois’ first official winery, Lynfred Winery. A clever play on the couple’s names, Lynfred ensured the legacy of its founders would live on for years to come.

Six Benefits of a Successful Social Media Campaign

Social Media evens the advertising and
marketing playing field.

Through my most recent work, I have not only uncovered just how deeply social media has rooted itself in the wine industry, I have also accumulated quite an arsenal of reasons why all businesses, not just vineyards and wineries, need to implement a consistent social media campaign.
While the benefits are immeasurable, I have narrowed my findings to those that have surfaced and resurfaced consistently throughout my research. 

Here are my top 6 reasons why all businesses should establish a social media presence:

Wine Country Captivates YouTube Viewers: Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Jordan Vineyard &Winery,
crafting award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon since 1972

How Jordan Vineyard & Winery preserves the land, and the people, that produce their wines 

My recent reintroduction to the euphoric experience found in a glass of wine has inspired me to expand my writing repertoire to the wine industry. 

Focusing on how the wine industry uses social media platforms to connect with their ever-expanding customer base, I began my journey with Jordan Vineyard & Winery, nestled in the heart of Sonoma's wine country.

Through my own independent research and an online interview with Lisa Mattson, Communication Director at Jordan Vineyard & Winery, I composed a case study, that I will share in a series of three blog posts, highlighting how she uses YouTube to share Jordan's unique culture of people and their crafts: Wine Country Captivates YouTube Viewers: Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Jordan Vineyard & Winery: A Proven YouTube Sensation!, and YouTube's Impact on Jordan Vineyard & Winery from a Business Standpoint. 

Here is a look at what makes Jordan Vineyard & Winery so special:

How Social Media is Impacting the Wine Industry

The Wine Industry and Social Media

My desire to marry my love of wine and my passion for writing has finally come to fruition. 

Currently in the process of crafting a whitepaper, that is looking more and more like it will be an eBook, I share how Social Media is being used in the wine industry.  In my search for vineyards and wineries who use Social Media, I found at least one to highlight for each of the following social networking platforms: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Blogging.

The journey has been a fruitful one, albeit long and arduous at times!  The people I have met and the resources I have discovered have proven to be worth all the time and energy thus far invested.

How LinkedIn Became my Favorite Social Networking Site in 2011

LinkedIn Connections (photo credit)

I don't remember how I came upon Linkedin in 2011 but it has proven to be one of my most fruitful discoveries. 

While LinkedIn doesn't boast the vast number of users that Facebook does, with close to 800,000,000, nor is it accumulating near as many new users as Twitter does, at an astounding 500,000 per day, LinkedIn has seen exponential growth in its own right and proves to be the professional's top choice in social networking.