Striking Web - Small Business Affordable Web Design Company » Social Media http://www.strikingweb.com Remember! If you don't have a website, you don't exist! Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:03:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 How To Use Social Networking To Promote Your Business http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/how-to-use-social-networking-to-promote-your-business/ http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/how-to-use-social-networking-to-promote-your-business/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:26:47 +0000 Striking Web, Inc. http://www.strikingweb.com/?p=131 Facebook and TwitterOne of the features that make us humans is our intricate ability to communicate with each other. With the beginning of the internet, we communicate more rapidly with a wider number of people than ever before. Distance no longer matters as geographical boundaries have collapsed with technological breakthroughs. Individuals or groups who share common interests can interact without any barrier. The age of social networking is here to stay. Sharing ideas with so many people has never been easier. You can exchange your thoughts with friends, colleagues or relatives without being physically present, connected by wires, or even on the same continent. This virtual social network, through which you can meet new friends around the world, has also opened the door to other possibilities.

These days, almost all businesses have their own websites for promoting their products and services.  Companies that do most of their business online are involved in what has been termed “e-commerce.” The success of an online business depends on how much traffic a website can generate. If a business is promoting a product through a website, then it must have maximum visibility. However, just ensuring visibility is not enough. Your product or business needs to be visible to those people who are your potential customers. A social network, which links those with common interests, is the perfect venue for finding your target market. Indeed, social networking sites are a marketer’s dream.

Reaching out to more and more people is the main objective of all businesses. Choices have always been limited by the boundaries of the available communication networks. However, social networking sites have made things easier and more cost-effective too. Organizations of all sizes have realized the potential of such sites and how they can transform any business. Just imagine the effect of reaching out to millions and millions of “friends” on a global platform – increased visibility, a rise in sales and, best of all, profits through the roof!

There are so many sites that you may get confused. Choose one based on its popularity. Create a profile and register yourself. Social networking sites have different forums. Get yourself established and as you connect with people start promoting your business. Your effort, creativity and liveliness will bring in unimaginable opportunities for your business. Gradually your business transforms into a global phenomenon. Many have done that so why not you?

]]> Facebook and TwitterOne of the features that make us humans is our intricate ability to communicate with each other. With the beginning of the internet, we communicate more rapidly with a wider number of people than ever before. Distance no longer matters as geographical boundaries have collapsed with technological breakthroughs. Individuals or groups who share common interests can interact without any barrier. The age of social networking is here to stay. Sharing ideas with so many people has never been easier. You can exchange your thoughts with friends, colleagues or relatives without being physically present, connected by wires, or even on the same continent. This virtual social network, through which you can meet new friends around the world, has also opened the door to other possibilities.

These days, almost all businesses have their own websites for promoting their products and services.  Companies that do most of their business online are involved in what has been termed “e-commerce.” The success of an online business depends on how much traffic a website can generate. If a business is promoting a product through a website, then it must have maximum visibility. However, just ensuring visibility is not enough. Your product or business needs to be visible to those people who are your potential customers. A social network, which links those with common interests, is the perfect venue for finding your target market. Indeed, social networking sites are a marketer’s dream.

Reaching out to more and more people is the main objective of all businesses. Choices have always been limited by the boundaries of the available communication networks. However, social networking sites have made things easier and more cost-effective too. Organizations of all sizes have realized the potential of such sites and how they can transform any business. Just imagine the effect of reaching out to millions and millions of “friends” on a global platform – increased visibility, a rise in sales and, best of all, profits through the roof!

There are so many sites that you may get confused. Choose one based on its popularity. Create a profile and register yourself. Social networking sites have different forums. Get yourself established and as you connect with people start promoting your business. Your effort, creativity and liveliness will bring in unimaginable opportunities for your business. Gradually your business transforms into a global phenomenon. Many have done that so why not you?

]]> http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/how-to-use-social-networking-to-promote-your-business/feed/ 3 Creating a Social Media Marketing Plan http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/creating-a-social-media-marketing-plan/ http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/creating-a-social-media-marketing-plan/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:00:21 +0000 Striking Web, Inc. http://www.strikingweb.com/?p=161 Social MediaInternet marketing has taken the world by leaps and bounds, since the inception of internet and its rise to fame. Social media websites are one of the most potent tools that grab a lion’s share in all the marketing strategies formulated by internet marketing experts these days. A social media marketing plan takes advantage of the viral quality of social media websites, and the fact that they have a good reach and accessibility. However, formulating a marketing plan for social media websites is no easy task and requires careful consideration. Following are certain things that should be considered while creating a social media marketing plan.

  1. The Image:  Before planning, you should understand the kind of image that you want to project in front of the viewers. This is important because internet makes it easy for people to research and study your profile and the associated pages. Furthermore, this is the step where the proprietor needs to decide the detailing that he or she is willing to provide. A properly detailed plan would include profiles of the product, service or business, and also a profile of the owners.
  2. Target Audience:  In any kind of marketing plan, whether it involves conventional media or new media, knowing the target audience is imperative. The strategists need to analyze the kind of people who are most likely to take interest in their client’s line of business, and then work towards reaching them in a way that will be compelling and attractive to them.
  3. Targeting: Once the target audience has been identified, the next step is to figure out their preferences with respect to websites and timings.
  4. Competitors: Keeping an eye on one’s competitors also leads to epiphanies for the client. Sometimes, a competing company may already have implemented a similar strategy, providing you with the lessons to be learnt from their mistakes.
  5. Feedback: The social media marketing plan should also put into place a method to monitor and judge the impact of the plan. Furthermore, a feedback process should be introduced for the creators and clients to analyze the success of the plan and make required modifications.
  6. Track: Last but not least; track the performance of your marketing plan.  Be sure to implement an Analytics tracking system to track the traffic and goals.
]]> Social MediaInternet marketing has taken the world by leaps and bounds, since the inception of internet and its rise to fame. Social media websites are one of the most potent tools that grab a lion’s share in all the marketing strategies formulated by internet marketing experts these days. A social media marketing plan takes advantage of the viral quality of social media websites, and the fact that they have a good reach and accessibility. However, formulating a marketing plan for social media websites is no easy task and requires careful consideration. Following are certain things that should be considered while creating a social media marketing plan.

  1. The Image:  Before planning, you should understand the kind of image that you want to project in front of the viewers. This is important because internet makes it easy for people to research and study your profile and the associated pages. Furthermore, this is the step where the proprietor needs to decide the detailing that he or she is willing to provide. A properly detailed plan would include profiles of the product, service or business, and also a profile of the owners.
  2. Target Audience:  In any kind of marketing plan, whether it involves conventional media or new media, knowing the target audience is imperative. The strategists need to analyze the kind of people who are most likely to take interest in their client’s line of business, and then work towards reaching them in a way that will be compelling and attractive to them.
  3. Targeting: Once the target audience has been identified, the next step is to figure out their preferences with respect to websites and timings.
  4. Competitors: Keeping an eye on one’s competitors also leads to epiphanies for the client. Sometimes, a competing company may already have implemented a similar strategy, providing you with the lessons to be learnt from their mistakes.
  5. Feedback: The social media marketing plan should also put into place a method to monitor and judge the impact of the plan. Furthermore, a feedback process should be introduced for the creators and clients to analyze the success of the plan and make required modifications.
  6. Track: Last but not least; track the performance of your marketing plan.  Be sure to implement an Analytics tracking system to track the traffic and goals.
]]> http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/creating-a-social-media-marketing-plan/feed/ 12 Why is it important for your business, to be a part of a social networking site? http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/website-stats/why-is-it-important-for-your-business-to-be-a-part-of-a-social-networking-site/ http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/website-stats/why-is-it-important-for-your-business-to-be-a-part-of-a-social-networking-site/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:06:44 +0000 Striking Web, Inc. http://www.strikingweb.com/?p=7 Social Media SitesIf 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!

]]> Social Media SitesIf 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!

]]> http://www.strikingweb.com/blog/website-stats/why-is-it-important-for-your-business-to-be-a-part-of-a-social-networking-site/feed/ 0