Social Networking – Go where the fish are!
Today, more and more professionals, small business owners, non-profit executives, fundraisers, politicians, religious leaders and others are beginning to understand the enormous marketing potential found in social networks. Once upon a time, social networks were nothing more than a haven for teens to gossip and exchange photos. Today they facilitate big business.
There are thousands of social networks on the internet. Every week another one goes up. Almost all social networks are based on the same concept and share the same structure: participants build a profile, invite their friends and share media and thoughts. Some internet marketers may instruct you not to focus on just one network, that you should join as many as possible. We disagree. The moment you join more than three, you will wear yourself down. It is overwhelming to have to update and keep more than two of your social network profiles running and active. Unless you have a marketing team, we suggest focusing on one network. We recommend Facebook.
Facebook
Why Facebook?
After testing a variety of social networks, here is what we found:
• With Facebook we were receiving fewer irrelevant emails that would clutter our inboxes.
• Facebook has a simple and easy-to-use format, where all actions can be completed within the same browser window.
• We have found more professionals, companies, and small businesses on Facebook than on any other network.
• Facebook’s professional look and feel had a subconscious effect on our marketing efforts. It made us feel like pros, and we slowly became just that.
• Facebook offers a variety of means to reaching people.
• Facebook’s news feed, the first page you see when you log in, wins them all. We will explain why shortly.
How to get started in Facebook
Step 1: Build your profile
Upload a picture or two of yourself and perhaps some pictures of your family and friends. Why get so personal? We are living the social media era on the web, a time when professionals are becoming more transparent as human beings. People want to know about you. Therefore, use your profile to reflect a positive and friendly image of yourself. Share your birthday, education, hobbies, favorite quotes, hometown, email address, and, above all, a link to your website.
Step 2: Invite your friends and associates to join your network
Facebook has an option that allows you to invite anyone whom you consider to be a friend, and they will be added to your network when they approve the invitation. Use the Facebook search engine as well to find your long lost friends, and add them your network.
Step 3: Join groups
Join any group that’s related to you, to your past, and to your community. Join groups associated with your alma mater, your high school, your Boy Scout troop, your professional circles, etc. Facebook has a group for just about everything and anything. By joining these groups, you are expanding the possibilities that old friends might find you. You also open the pathway for new friendships and associations. This is a great way to promote yourself.
Step 4: Join a Network
Facebook Networks (with a capital N, not to be confused with the personal network you build by inviting friends) are like group pages for everyone who is a member of an educational, work, or geographical network. This is another great way to find people you know and build your network.
Once you are settled in Facebook and feel at ease with its format, it’s time for marketing.
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