What is Social Networking? Can you use Social Networking in your Business?
The Internet has matured to the point that we now use the Internet daily to communicate with current clients and to develop new business. Today, however, e-mail and websites alone are not enough to maintain those business relationships and to develop marketing plans. A whole new level of networking is now available by utilizing the following tools:
What Is Facebook? Facebook is a social utility for connecting people with those around them - friends, family, coworkers, or simply others with similar interests. Facebook started in 2004 as a closed community for college students (requiring users to sign up with a valid university email address) but has since expanded beyond that to high schools, corporations, regional networks, or any user across the world.
Business Goals in Facebook:
Your business can be found by people who are searching for your products or services.
You can connect and engage with current and potential customers as well as create a community around your business.
Through Facebook, you can also promote other content you create, including webinars, blog articles, or other resources.
Profiles are meant for people and Pages are meant for businesses. Do not create a profile for your business.
Facebook is building significant new functionality for businesses, and all of this functionality is only available to Pages.
There are a few key differences between Business Pages and Personal Profiles:
Pages allow you to designate multiple administrators, so that you can have multiple people help manage the account.
Pages are public and will start ranking in Facebook and public search results.
Pages are split into different categories (local businesses, brands, musicians) that help you get listed in more relevant search results.
Personal profiles have friends, which require mutual acceptance, whereas anyone can become a fan of your Page without first going through administrator approval.
Worried about privacy? Facebook is very flexible in letting you control your exposure
MySpace:
A great space to market your business if you sell to teenagers. This site is a draw for the junior high and high school student who is interested in music, clothing, and food.
Linkedin:
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with over 40 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals. Also, you can search the job postings if you are looking for new employees
Whether you're actively seeking a job, or just keeping tabs on where your industry is heading, LinkedIn Jobs leverages your professional relationships to help you achieve career goals or hire the perfect employee.
Whether you're looking for a career opportunity, winning new clients or building your professional reputation, LinkedIn connects you to jobs, sales leads and ideal business partners.
With the powerful search engine and company research tools, Linkedin is the place to turn for new business opportunities.
Twitter:
Users can send very short messages (up to 140 characters) know as "tweets." It is a good way to keep your name in front of people who are interested in your and your business.
