Social networking. You’ve undoubtedly heard the term … in fact, you’ve likely heard it over and over and over again especially in the past year. Social networking really means ANY form of social interaction. For example, when you go to the local bar with friends that’s social networking. When you go to watch your child playing in the junior soccer league game you are networking socially. When you go to yourLeTip or Chambers of Commerce meetings you are social networking.
However, when the term social networking bandied about it is in reference to certain web-based activities. I like to use the term “social internetworking”! Networking socially on the internet.
For example, MySpace is a social networking website. Once you login, you can connect with friends, friends of friends and more. There are blogs and bulletins, photos and videos. Other social networking sites you’ve likely heard of areLinkedIn, FaceBook, YouTube and the list goes on and on. Oh. Let’s not forget about the ever-popular Twitter.
So .. what exactly do these sites DO for you besides waste your time?
Well, let me tell you right now that social networking MUST be an integral part of your internet marketing strategy. It is NOT a waste of time. These sites allow you to reach out to your network of associates quickly and easily. With a few simple steps and about an hour’s worth of time you can literally reach tens of thousands of people!
If you add a new product to your online store you are not only going to email your customer base (You ARE grabbing your site’s visitor and customer emails aren’t you? And sending them monthly newsletters?) but you can notify all of your “friends”, associates, and subscribers on all of your social networking sites.
For example, my MySpace account for the Q Netwerk has 2,842 friends and is increasing one per day organically. My Q Netwerk mailing list of subscribers on the Q Communities sites is over 4,300! Every other week I connect with these 7,142 people just from these two lists … add in Twitter, FaceBook and LinkedIn and that’s over 10,000 people. Are you reaching 10,000 potential customers every month or so?
If your business provides a product or service for use by the general public you NEED social networking to reach them. MySpace won’t help you if you’re selling heart/lung machines; but if you are selling jewelry or information or … get that MySpace account started NOW. If you need help, call me.
Next issue, I will provide an expanded list of social networking websites with a little bit of a breakdown as to their demographics and specialties.
