If you own a business, you probably spend a good portion of your time networking and trying to keep in touch with your clients. The goal, of course, is to generate more business! But, running a business can be time consuming, so how can you network with your existing clients 24/7? With the advent of Social Networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Myspace, now can you leverage your time networking online.

Let’s begin by defining “Social Network Service”:
A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services.

Social networking websites are being used regularly by millions of people, and it now seems that social networking will be an enduring part of everyday life. The main types of social networking services are those which contain directories of some categories (such as former classmates), means to connect with friends (usually with self-description pages), and recommender systems linked to trust.
(Source: www. wikipedia.org)

So, now that we understand what a social networking site is, let’s review the three popular social networking sites in North America: Linkedin.com, Facebook.com, Myspace.com .

Linkedin.com
LinkedIn is an online network of more than 30 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. The mission is to help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have.

Facebook.com
Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

Myspace.com
MySpace is an online community that lets you meet your friends’ friends.
Create a community on MySpace and you can share photos, journals and interests with your growing network of mutual friends! See who knows who, or how you are connected. Find out if you really are six people away from Kevin Bacon.

So, what’s the difference?
Think of it this way: “LinkedIn.com is the office, Facebook.com is the barbeque in the backyard, and Myspace.com is the bar.” -Reid Hoffman, CEO/Founder LinkedIn.com

Now, which site can give your business exposure?
Well quite frankly they all can, but if you want to keep in touch professionally with all your clients, and connect with your clients connections, and get referrals from your professional connections, then the recommendation is to go with LinkedIn.com.

When you join LinkedIn.com, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.

Through the LinkedIn network you can:

Find potential clients, service providers, subject experts, and partners who come recommended
Be found for business opportunities
Discover inside connections that can help you land projects and close deals
Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know.

Summary
LinkedIn.com, Facebook.com, and Myspace.com all can give your business exposure. But, do your due diligence and do a little research on all three sites. Once you find the one that best fits your business niche, then sign up and start building your network. Not only will you keep in touch with your clients but you will also create an online profile of yourself and your business. The goal is to get connected with your clients online and to generate referrals to help grow your business. Good Luck!

Tags: Social Media
Posted in Website Stats