Effective networking is all about forming relationships. Its also about building long-lasting connections with other professionals. The more individual connections to a person, the stronger your relationship with that person.
Social media means being social. Social networking platforms are more than just for playing online games, sending virtual gifts and keeping in touch with family and friends. They are a great way to market yourself or your company and an cost-effective means of advertising your businesses and what products and services you offer. With so many platforms out there, how do you know which one is best for your business? These three social networking sites with distinct advantages are worthy of mention – Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
In 2006, Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook for people over 13 to re-connect with family and friends they have not seen or heard from in a long time. Since then, the number of Facebook users in all age and demographic groups has growing. Among these users, the age group of 26-30 years old is the fastest growing demographic. Barely four years after its launch, Facebook has become the largest social network in the world, peaking recently 500 million users globally and 5 million new users joining every week.
These numbers are proof that social media is in the mainstream and can be a highly effective business tool to market your products, land contracts and connect with your clients and prospects.
Although other sites are utilized in the business world and many people still use multiple social networking sites, LinkedIn is one of the best places to build your business’s Web presence.
Many people have the perception that LinkedIn is just a site to job hunt and put up your resume. LinkedIn is an interconnected network of more than 35 million business professionals worldwide, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can use it to establish strong online collaborations with qualified professionals with whom you need to work with to establish your goals. As a social network, LinkedIn offers you the opportunity to connect with others in your industry, develop your business and generate leads to increase sales batting average.
Twitter is a great opportunity to build your brand personality online, and you can casually and informally interact in real-time with possibly thousands of other people. Many company HR and PR reps, regular employees and CEOs have Twitter accounts, so imagine the business opportunities you have if you link up on Twitter. It is also the most informal of all three networks and allows for the greatest degree of conversation.
Here is a list of another 20 social networking websites dedicated to business professionals and entrepreneurs that are also worth a look:
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/07/28/social-networking-sites-for-business/
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