The term "Blog" is short for weblog. A blog is a post that is written from the perspective of an individual or group. The spectrum of blogs and bloggers is staggering -- encompassing just about every topic imaginable. Likewise, the spectrum of blog writing styles varies widely from the very personal to the very professional. Blogs are almost always first-person and their insider-perspective often makes them a credible and engaging source of information. Blogs are social media in the sense that readers can contribute to the blog via comments. Additionally, a blogger may have a rich network of readers with whom he or she has credibility and influence.

Facebook is a social networking site with more than 400 million users (as of September 2009.) Initially created as a way to connect Ivy League university students -- Facebook has evolved into a truly global platform that connects individuals of every demographic in almost every country. A growing number of adults age 30-55 are using Facebook-- making it perhaps the most viable social networking platform for businesses. Facebook has recognized this opportunity by providing businesses with special tools to promote themselves on the site.

Facebook apps are third-party applications that create opportunities for interaction between users; OR between the application and the user. An example would be an application that allows Facebook users to play Texas Hold Em’ -- or an application that allows a user to take a survey or quiz.
Facebook applications are written in Facebook’s API. Outside FB applications can also be used to create customized business profiles.

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." RSS is a way to publish frequently updated material. This could mean blog posts, news stories, stock prices, etc...

Bookmarking of web pages to user-account on a website rather than via a browser. Users can tag content and bookmarks can be shared or kept private. Information about the content being tagged is aggregated by the social bookmarking platform and in this way, the most popular items online (according to the users) can be determined. Tags are also often aggregated so that a term such as "social networking" may rise to the top as the most popular "tag" of the day -- thus indicating that many people are reading and bookmarking items online about the term "social networking."

Social Media is any type of new media that allows for interaction among users.

Examples: video-sharing, user reviews, social networks, blogs, micro-blogs, photo-sharing, social bookmarking

Social Media Marketing is marketing that focuses on interactive platforms like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc... Some prefer "conversation marketing." The goal is to leverage word-of-mouth marketing online to promote & grow a brand.

A social network is an online community where a registered user can interact with other registered users. Typically, the user is encouraged to create a "profile" which contains basic information about the individual. Users interact with each other in a variety of ways: status updates, private messages, photo sharing & tagging, blogs, website links.

Some popular social networks in some ways mirror old-school business "intranets" in that the interaction and information contained within them is visible only within the "walled-garden" of the social network (a la Facebook.) Other social networks (MySpace among them,) have less concrete boundaries and the information can be seen by non-users or users who are not within an individual's "network."

Twitter is a social network defined by it's dependence on "micro-blogging" as the only form of interaction between users. Users "tweet" micro-blogs of 140 characters at a time. Users may also create profiles. Twitter keeps the platform fairly simple and straightforward -- but there are opportunities for individuals and businesses to customize their profiles and manage their information

Web 2.0 is a term to express the sea-change that has occurred online in the past few years. Formerly, static content was common and websites were brochure-like. The advent of easily created and shared dynamic content means that the internet has shifted to a more conversational format. Web 2.0 can refer to everything from blogs to social networks -- but at its heart is the notion that individuals can self-publish. Interaction is also now common and easy between brands and consumers.

Wikis are information databases with content that is created and maintained by users.

Recommendations about a business, product, or services that spread from person to person. Depending on the perceived credibility of the individual making the recommendations (individuals in our social networks tend to be very credible to us;) word-of-mouth marketing can be incredibly powerful.