USING SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES TO GENERATE NEW BUSINESS
We have become used to hearing about Facebook, My Space and Twitter but how do you use social networking sites to help your business? Here are some of the ways that you can use these sites to market your company:
Research your market. Read the forums and listen. Through participation in these communities, companies can learn about consumer interests and reactions.
Build and reinforce your brand. Every signature on the Web, and every profile online, is an opportunity to show others you exist and to strengthen your brand.
Microtarget. If you have identified a specific group of customers to target, the odds are good that you can identify a virtual community where they are already gathered. Get involved and watch business grow.
Take control of your network presence. Make sure that when people look for you online…which they will…your image is both accurate and flattering.
Take a leadership role. Write a blog to cover your domain, and perhaps create a virtual community around your unique interests. Share information with others as much as practicable.
Share resources with others. Let others have access to documents and templates that will help them and make their business life easier. Do this and they will return and may recommend you.
Business relationships should be developed on the Web. Online business networking, connecting and creating opportunities on the Web, is a logical step for businesses who want to let others know they exist and to attract new customers. Try it!
