Social Networking Sites Can Drive Business Through Your Doors

Social Networking Sites Can Drive Business Through Your Doors

Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn. It seems like every day there’s a new website out there promising to link you to all your “friends” in the cyber world. But what does it mean for business? With owners of businesses large and small already on a time crunch, why should we find time to track another series of websites? The answer is simple, if done correctly and updated regularly, your web of social networking sites can mean more business to your location.

For starters, what is social networking? Social networking has created new and direct ways of communication and information-sharing. Of all its benefits, social networking’s greatest feature is its cost – FREE. Linking with people across Chicago and the nation is completely free of charge, and can mean big dividends for business. Basically, social networking is the 21st Century equivalent of “word of mouth”.

One of the most important tips for a successful social networking plan for businesses is to remain active. This is the quickest and most effective way to get your brand into the social networking sphere. If you stay active with interesting news and innovative ideas, you will gain – and keep – hundreds of followers. In about an hour a day, a business can update all of their social networking sites clearly and visibly. Before you spend time on social networking, it is important to first understand how each site works.

Facebook
Boasting more than 175 million active users across the globe, Facebook serves as the most popular social networking site available today. Launched in the dorms and hallways of Harvard University in 2004, Facebook gives businesses a free resource to post photos, events and messages to help drive their network of friends locally or nationally to their location. After limiting itself to university and high school students only, Facebook has now become a popular resource for anyone looking to link their business – or themselves – to the masses.

LinkedIn
Launched in 2003, LinkedIn serves as a “professional networking site” that offers individuals and businesses the platform to make “connections” to both colleagues and friends. Members of LinkedIn can discuss current industry trends, browse available job openings and recommend current and past coworkers for other positions. A popular resource for businesses looking to connect is the “Groups” feature, giving members a free way to highlight news, events and general “goings-on” at their location.

MySpace
Also founded in 2003 and once the most popular social networking site, MySpace has waned in popularity over the past few years, being out-paced by Facebook in 2008. Also available free of charge, MySpace has become a haven for up-and-coming bands, comedians and more. Businesses can grow their network and expand their outreach through MySpace’s blogs, classifieds, forums and bulletins.

Twitter
Famous for asking its users to answer the question “What are you doing?” Twitter has continued to gain popularity and exposure over the past year. The first “micro-blogging” site of its kind, Twitter offers users a chance to share their news, interesting links and random thoughts in 140-word snippets. Through this resource, businesses can form instant, direct relationships with clients, colleagues and their competition.

To put it into perspective, it has been said that LinkedIn is your office, Facebook is the company picnic, Twitter is the water cooler and MySpace is the bar in your building.

On April 16, the LPCC will host its first Small Business Forum based on all of the chatter surrounding these various e-outreach tools. Digital Marketing and Social Networking explained the pros and cons for each social networking site and their potential benefits to businesses. Issues on what should and should not be posted, privacy issues and more were covered at the first of what will become a regular series of forums for LPCC members only.

Now that you’re ready to dive into the world of social networking, be sure to find the LPCC on all of the sites listed above and join our groups. Information on upcoming and past events, breaking news and general LPCC details are updated daily and all link to the appropriate pages on the LPCC’s website. Let the LPCC’s social networks be your launching pad into the digital marketing world!