Social Networking 101
Social networking has evolved from the teen angst filled communities of MySpace and Friendster to business-friendly sites like Yelp! and LinkedIn.
Online communities offer plenty of opportunities for business owners to reach out to potential customers and employees.
Online communities offer plenty of opportunities for business owners to reach out to potential customers and employees.
Here are my thoughts on the benefits, plus a few tips for getting started with social networking today.
Build trust -- Show your expertise to potential customers, employees and business partners. For example, if your
small brick-and-mortar business sells auto parts, answering members' questions in a car enthusiasts forum will
build your reputation, and likely lead to a few more sales.
small brick-and-mortar business sells auto parts, answering members' questions in a car enthusiasts forum will
build your reputation, and likely lead to a few more sales.
Find employees or business partners -- On social networking sites aimed at professionals, like LinkedIn, members create online resumes,
leave recommendations (references) for colleagues, and setup introductions for each other.
leave recommendations (references) for colleagues, and setup introductions for each other.
Turn negatives into positives -- These days, how you react to negative criticism is more important than what the criticism was about. Social
networking sites like Yelp! allow small businesses to get feedback from customers and then receive public accolades for being a
business that cares about and responds to its customers.
networking sites like Yelp! allow small businesses to get feedback from customers and then receive public accolades for being a
business that cares about and responds to its customers.
If you've never explored the world of social networking, check out these two websites that cater to business:
| · LinkedIn -- for working professional networking. Useful for all professionals, including job seekers, employers, freelancers, and business owners. |
| · Yelp! -- for owners of local brick-and-mortar businesses. Yelp is the reigning champ of review sites. Members review all sorts of local business, from restaurants and nail salons to supermarkets and gyms. If you cater to the local market, first make sure your business is listed. Then, read and respond to your customers' reviews. |
We are in business to make money, it’s as simple as that. We have a product that we know can make us money, or we have a service that we know people
need. We could have the best looking website on the internet, but if people cannot find the website, then we have problems. Thats why we need to
advertise our business, and promote the life out of it, if we want to succeed and make money.
need. We could have the best looking website on the internet, but if people cannot find the website, then we have problems. Thats why we need to
advertise our business, and promote the life out of it, if we want to succeed and make money.
So now you have your website online, you have a good product or service available that you know will make you money. Now you need
customers/traffic. There are various ways to do this, one being PPC or you could pay serious money to a good SEO company to do the job for you. But,
there are also other ways of doing this, that cost’s very little or in many cases, nothing at all.
customers/traffic. There are various ways to do this, one being PPC or you could pay serious money to a good SEO company to do the job for you. But,
there are also other ways of doing this, that cost’s very little or in many cases, nothing at all.
Now that i have you interested, i will tell you how to get trafic to your website, without spending any money. Social networking websites, this is a good
source of free traffic. They have millions of users, so this is a good place to start.
source of free traffic. They have millions of users, so this is a good place to start.
When it comes to social networking, there are many individuals who think of online friendships or online relationships. While these types of relationships
are the most common, did you know that social networking is also used for businesses? In fact, that was originally how social networking got started. If
you are a small business owner, especially one that operates an online business, there is a way that you can use social networking sites to your advantage.
are the most common, did you know that social networking is also used for businesses? In fact, that was originally how social networking got started. If
you are a small business owner, especially one that operates an online business, there is a way that you can use social networking sites to your advantage.
As previously mentioned, social networking websites with a focus on businesses, are a great way to promote your business. However, this does not mean
that you should completely forget about the other online social networking websites, the ones that are designed to make online friendships. Although you
may not learn any valuable business tips by joining Yahoo! 360 or MySpace, you may be able to get new customers and new customers is exactly what
your business should want and need.
that you should completely forget about the other online social networking websites, the ones that are designed to make online friendships. Although you
may not learn any valuable business tips by joining Yahoo! 360 or MySpace, you may be able to get new customers and new customers is exactly what
your business should want and need.
Your business needs customers, and as mentioned earlier, social networking websites are a great way to go about this. But you need to do it correctly. If
you sign up at one of the larger social networking websites like Facebook, Bebo etc you need to create your own profile. Do not create a page about your
business as this is not a good way to do this. It is best to create a profile about yourself, and also include information on your business, as people hate to
be solicited for business.
you sign up at one of the larger social networking websites like Facebook, Bebo etc you need to create your own profile. Do not create a page about your
business as this is not a good way to do this. It is best to create a profile about yourself, and also include information on your business, as people hate to
be solicited for business.
By joining a social networking website, especially one that is popular and has a large number of members, you should be able to generate interest in your
business, including the products or services that you sell. Who knows, but that interest generated could turn into sales; thus making your social
networking experience more than worth it.
business, including the products or services that you sell. Who knows, but that interest generated could turn into sales; thus making your social
networking experience more than worth it.
Nice to Meet You: Benefits of Social Networking in eCommerce
What do you get when you throw a bunch of people in a room together with nothing more than their thoughts and a few hours to kill? One thing you can
count on—once they’ve gotten past polite small talk—is animated, revealing conversation about whatever happens to be on their minds. As a general rule,
people love sharing their opinions and gauging the reactions of others.
count on—once they’ve gotten past polite small talk—is animated, revealing conversation about whatever happens to be on their minds. As a general rule,
people love sharing their opinions and gauging the reactions of others.
The same concept holds true in the world of cyberspace. With the proliferation of social networking sites, people need not be in the same room—heck,
not even in the same country—to share their viewpoints. Most everyone is scrambling to make their mark in the online medium, and interactive forums
and blog postings make it virtually effortless to get their thoughts and experiences on the record.
not even in the same country—to share their viewpoints. Most everyone is scrambling to make their mark in the online medium, and interactive forums
and blog postings make it virtually effortless to get their thoughts and experiences on the record.
So how does all of this impact eCommerce? More than you might expect. Social networking has become a largely untapped resource for the marketing of
online products and services. Remember word of mouth, perhaps the oldest and most effective method of advertising? It’s still alive and kicking, with a
twist—instead of Aunt Sue telling her neighbor about the incredible deal on that sweater she got at the department store, she’s blogging to thousands
about the steal she found on Amazon’s site.
online products and services. Remember word of mouth, perhaps the oldest and most effective method of advertising? It’s still alive and kicking, with a
twist—instead of Aunt Sue telling her neighbor about the incredible deal on that sweater she got at the department store, she’s blogging to thousands
about the steal she found on Amazon’s site.
What Exactly is a Social Network?
According to Wikipedia, it’s defined as “focusing on the building and verifying of online social networks for communities of people who share interests
and activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others.” Some examples of today’s most popular social networking websites
are MySpace.com, Facebook.com, LinkedIn.com, Dogpile.com, Meetup.com, and Stumbleupon.com, but these are just the tip of the Internet-wide iceberg
that encompasses community forums, user-submitted product reviews, blog postings, bookmark “tagging,” and social shopping sites. In these meeting
places, interaction is the name of the game. Members chat, email, and blog about everything from potty-training tactics to online dating services. And
within every question, answer, gripe, and tribute lies a potential consumer—your potential consumer.
and activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others.” Some examples of today’s most popular social networking websites
are MySpace.com, Facebook.com, LinkedIn.com, Dogpile.com, Meetup.com, and Stumbleupon.com, but these are just the tip of the Internet-wide iceberg
that encompasses community forums, user-submitted product reviews, blog postings, bookmark “tagging,” and social shopping sites. In these meeting
places, interaction is the name of the game. Members chat, email, and blog about everything from potty-training tactics to online dating services. And
within every question, answer, gripe, and tribute lies a potential consumer—your potential consumer.
Effective Social Networking Tactics
Once you’ve identified a forum or group with direct or indirect interest in the product or service you provide, do what you can to become one of them.
Post answers to questions and become an active member of the online community. Over time, you’ll accumulate insider information about their shopping
behaviors, their likes and dislikes, and what makes them more or less apt to buy.
Post answers to questions and become an active member of the online community. Over time, you’ll accumulate insider information about their shopping
behaviors, their likes and dislikes, and what makes them more or less apt to buy.
After you’ve gained a sense of trust and authority in the community, you can begin subtly mentioning your product or service as a helpful solution to the
members’ problems, needs, or desires. This isn’t the place for persuasive selling—the second someone suspects your motivations are self-serving, you’ll
lose all credibility. The key is to create just enough buzz to get the other folks talking about your offerings, and then sit back and let the site do the work
for you.
members’ problems, needs, or desires. This isn’t the place for persuasive selling—the second someone suspects your motivations are self-serving, you’ll
lose all credibility. The key is to create just enough buzz to get the other folks talking about your offerings, and then sit back and let the site do the work
for you.
When launching a new product or re-design, online forums can be a great source of feedback from current and prospective customers. Another strategy is
to market special promotions and product updates to selected members on social networking sites. Having a grasp on their shopping proclivities gives you
an inherent advantage in presenting wares that cater to their wants and needs.
to market special promotions and product updates to selected members on social networking sites. Having a grasp on their shopping proclivities gives you
an inherent advantage in presenting wares that cater to their wants and needs.
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