Mapping the amorphous mass that is 'social media' is no easy task, particularly as it's an rapidly changing beast.
Once visualised, however, it's a lot easier to 'get' the the size and scope of social media, and of course better understand the challenge it presents brands, companies, marketers and PR people etc.
Prominent blogger Brian Solis has, in conjunction with Jesse Tomas of JESS3 created the conversation prism that shows graphically how online communities and networks connect to form the social web.
At the heart of the model sits 'The Conversation - the art of listening, learning and sharing'.
According to Solis, the conversation map is "a living, breathing representation of social media", and that it will "evolve as services and conversation channels emerge, fuse, and dissipate".
While on the subject of Brian Solis, he has written a couple of documents (one an e-book, the other a blog post 'manifesto') that serve as excellent book-ends to the Conversation Prism.
A downloadable e-book that outlines of social media tools and resources needed to listen and participate, guiding PR, customer service, product development, and marketing
A lengthy blog post that looks at the integration of social media into broader marketing communications (it was written over a year ago but is still makes for relevant reading).
