Archive for the ‘Social Media for Business’ Category

Social networking is the ability to communicate with an extended contact group. You initially build a group of contacts that you know and add to this group using the contacts of your initial contacts. Businesses can use the extended contact network to target other businesses. The extended contact network is built using the internet. This means that you can talk in sound bytes directly to the contacts of your contacts which increases your overall reach and influence.

The social part of ’social networking’ describes how the relationships need to be based upon more than business. In the same way that you would not go to a face to face networking meeting and do nothing but sell, you don’t only sell in a social networking environment. Share information and contacts as well as personal things about yourself – allow people to get to know a part of you (remembering that it is a global environment).

There are a number of applications that assist in the social networking process. Popular examples are LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Each site has its own use and allows you to reach your extended contacts in its own way. I use a combination of different social media sites in order to reach different audiences. There are a number of common themes between the sites however.

Strategy – Before you start social networking, work out your strategy. What do you want to get from the networking? Contacts, brand building, feedback from your customers, hits on your website, information or what?

Policy – You will need to check whether your company has a policy on social networking. If you are the owner, you can decide whether you want your employees to engage with the sites and if so, which ones and how.

Profile – You must register with a profile. This includes information about your business, a picture of you – probably not your business logo and a link to your website or blog. Your profile will be used to find you initially and once found, to promote your business and to encourage people to go to your website. Some sites only allow you 160 characters, others are limitless. It is worth crafting a number of different paragraphs containing your SEO keywords to use with different sites.

Etiquette – Your online presence should reflect your business, just like your face to face presence. If you would talk politely and thank your customers or contacts in a face to face environment, you should do the same online. I am amazed at the number of people that don’t thank me if I promote them through online media or in fact people who think it is OK to swear in an online environment.

Communication – Remember that you are talking to people – have conversations, share information and share contacts. Generally, I find “what goes around, comes around” is true for online networking as well as face to face networking.

Business versus Personal – There is definitely an overlap between personal and business networking. Some of your business colleagues may also be personal friends, but it is up to you to decide right up front how far you want that crossover to go. Some people share stories of their children and family – they will display pictures of their family on their Facebook page for example – that’s not what I choose to do. Do whatever you are comfortable with.

Global – Remember with all these sites that if you are using them for business, you need the world to be able to see them. There is no point using social networking to market your business, if you hide your profile so nobody can see it. But remember that everybody can see what you say – both positive, negative and personal!

There is no ‘right’ way to use Social Networking – just give it a go to benefit you and your business!

Author: Mary D Thomas
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker

The use of social networking sites to connect people has become so widespread today.But other than those who just want to communicate with friends, old and new, social media is also currently being taken advantage by business oriented people as a way to reach their target clients and improve their businesses.

People involved in small business have found a powerful marketing tool in these social networking sites.

Among the top social media used by business people today are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. By using these sites, you are able to expose your business to more people, at both a local and international level.

Facebook

Facebook has become highly popular in recent years attracting millions of users from across the globe. This popularity has, in fact, led the site’s management to offer marketing platforms that encourage people to share their business endeavors and build communities as well.

To use Facebook to your advantage, make sure to create an interesting personal profile page. Include photos and business information that will attract visitors and encourage them to read through your profile.

Update your information regularly so that existing and potential clients know what you’re up to. Discuss recent happenings regarding your business and interact with readers who post comments on your page.

Be friendly at all times and don’t forget to create a “fans” page and invite clients to join.

Twitter

In just a few years, Twitter has attracted a steady following that is increasing rapidly as the “buzz” around Twitter spreads.This is the power of social networking sites – they are viral.

One advantage of Twitter over the others is that it lifts the lid on the activities and conversations of other people. What we are seeing today is news being reported on Twitter before the media even has a chance to tell us.

For business people who want to maximize the vast communication potential of this social networking site, it is best to be consistent when tweeting (telling people what you are doing).

This means not only providing information to your followers about what you are up to with your business, but also adding value.You need to share tools, tips and strategies and make your updates interesting and engaging.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an ideal site for entrepreneurs because it gives you the opportunity to grow your business using less of your own money.How?LinkedIn is used by many professionals to search for potential employees and also as a means to expand their business contacts.

Providing a detailed profile (business information and photos) is the best way to expand your network of contacts through LinkedIn.

You can include a link to your website or blog for those people looking to access more information about you and your business. Interaction is key and you can do this by answering questions that provide valuable and interesting information.

YouTube

YouTube is a phenomenal success in terms of video sharing on the internet. This social networking site has become the Number 2 search engine, behind Google.

If you have not tried live video streaming as a marketing tool for your business yet, it is time to jump in front of the camera.Videos are very powerful tools in drawing online traffic.

Create a short but clear video featuring yourself talking about your business and how you started out.Tell them about your journey, provide them with success stories and share your passion about your business.

Create several short videos (perhaps video seminars you conduct, presentations you make, or other business projects) and upload them on YouTube. Make sure that you post your videos in the category relevant to your business to draw the right target audience.

In using social media to market and improve your business, building trust with your audience is essential. You can only do this by being honest and providing consistently interesting, useful and valuable information. What matters most is that you share your experiences and knowledge.Doing so can influence people’s lives and encourage them to take action.

By Wendy Moore

Copyright 2009 Savvy Web Women Pty Ltd

Author: Wendy Moore
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

There are still a number of people who are not convinced that social media works and I often get asked “how does it work,?” “How do you use social media and how do you use Twitter”.

A key aspect of what I do for my business and for some of my clients is to monitor conversations on a daily basis.  I would surf the net every day and also spend some time on Twitter just listening and reading what people have to say, but not all day.

Now Twitter is just one aspect of social media but this shows you just how powerful Twitter can be.

For the sceptics who are not convinced about the benefit of using social media and for those who think that Twitter is a waste of time.  Here is an example of how two businesses and one freelancer benefitted from a microblogging tool like Twitter.

A while back while monitoring conversations on Twitter, I spotted a tweet which read:

“Anyone know someone they can recommend who creates professional-looking copy

in pdf format (like e-books, e-brochures, etc.)?”

“Hell yeh, of course I do”, and so what did I do, I responded saying:  “What do you need help with? I’m sure there is something I can do for you” and I immediately sent Bev Toogood a DM with my email address.

A few minutes later I received an email from Bev with her requirements.  I sent her a quote, she agreed and I got the ball rolling immediately.  I got in touch with my graphics person in Cape Town who got started with some ideas.

The result being that to date we have completed 5 jobs for Little Sunflowers and yes social media does work for business.

So what do you have to do?

• Monitor and participate in conversations but don’t do it all day you won’t get any work done.
• See the right tweet at the right time.
• Respond immediately

This is what Beverley Toogood of Littlesunflowers said when I spoke to her about the Tweet on Twitter when I asked her permission to share this with you:

I put a note out on Twitter which you responded to, as did someone else.  They recommended a third party, I tweeted that third party & got no reply.  I found the third party’s website, filled in an online enquiry form, then got a weird automated response which accused me of spamming. I then tweeted them again and explained that this had happened.  Over a day later they replied, by which time you were getting the first draft of the magnet together.

A real lesson for us all in how fast things move these days, and how important it is to respond to potential and existing customers quickly because, if you don’t, someone else will!