Are Social Networking Sites Useful for Business? | Estrada ...

Social networking online seems to be exploding: Facebook, LinkedIn,Twitter, Digg, and so on. When I ask how these sites can help my business, the answers can be vague. I am trying to relate it to face-to-face networking, which includes sharing ideas, information, and resources with other businesses. Are these sites useful for those goals? There is only so much time in my day and I need to use it effectively. ?B.H., Scarborough, Me.

You are correct that social networking is a rapidly growing, headline grabbing phenomenon. The question for entrepreneurs is how to tap into this trend as a business opportunity, rather than simply away to connect or reconnect with people.

For the most part, these social networking sites should be viewed as complementary to your online presence. Think of it as a nice-to-have, not a must-have.? When used properly, it is something that can gain your business some attention. However, you need to realize it shouldn?t be seen as a replacement to your traditional online presence.

Others consider social network sites primarily for meeting people, asking for advice or referrals and, carefully, doing online marketing. The uses vary by application or site.? Sites such as LinkedIn can be helpful in connecting with people you want to meet for one reason or another.? Twitter and Facebook can be helpful when you?re trying to notify a group of people about something you want to promote or about a happening of some kind.

Here are the 16 lessons that we helpful with your social media campaign:

Define your goals to keep you on track, everything you do as a business has to have a purpose otherwise how will you know what you are doing, where you are going, what you are creating and how you are getting on.

We can be everywhere,? internet opens up potential markets across the globe and, so, thinking globally will help you expand your reach.? Don?t be limited by geography.

The internet has a long memory and is an echo chamber, so be careful what you say and how you act as the internet activity gets archived

It doesn?t have to be expensive, most of the social tools on the internet, at their basic level, are free.

Don?t try and be everywhere, reflecting on lesson 2 can mean that we get over-stretched. So, pick what fits and works for you.

Be helpful and contribute to others, be social, comment and help. If you write a blog, offer to write guest posts for someone else.

SEO is important but great content is more important.? This is a bit of an art/science that I have not mastered. It is important but don?t spend too much time crafting SEO optimized content. Concentrate on generating good content first and foremost.

Bottom line is anyone can do it, but NOT everyone does it.? It will make sense for many businesses to have a social media presence and many businesses are talking about it. However, there is a lot of talk and your competitive advantage may come from actually doing something rather than just talking about it.? Only, if it makes sense for your business.? Pick and keep refining your niche.? Your niche will not always be what you think it is so keep think about your target market and refine your content accordingly. Alternatively, listen to your readers/customers and let them tell you what your niche is or is becoming.

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Source: http://estradastrategies.com/fla/2011/06/28/are-social-networking-sites-useful-for-business/

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