Using Social Networks to Build Business

Social network marketing CAN increase business but there are some rules that have to be followed. One of the keys to using social networks is to come from a givers gain perspective. By going into it to see how you can be of benefit to others (and I don't mean by selling them your product which they "need"), you will gain their respect and have either a great new customer or an excellent source of referrals.

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Have You Been Net-WORKED?

Net-WORKED: I'm collecting your stories on creative but tasteless times when someone tried to network with you. Visit my blog post and add your story to the comments.

Social Networking Vids

Social Networking in Plain English

We made this video for people who wonder why social networking sites are so popular. We think one reason is because they help to solve a real world problem. www.commoncraft.com/show

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Social Networking Do's and Don'ts part 1

By Rob Clark

Now that you have discovered that social networking is probably the most effective online marketing tool that you can utilize to promote your business at no cost at all, you should determine what you must and must not do in order to be successful. Here are some helpful tips.

Dos and Don'ts

1. Do join social networking sites that cater to your preferences and whose members will have potential use for your products and services. You will be wasting your time and resources trying to sell the members products they would never be interested in.

2. Don't overdo your member profile. You should simply make it reader-friendly and make sure that aside from providing a lasting impression, your site should contain all the relevant information about you and your business. The other members would surely appreciate the efforts and attentions to detail you have shown.

3. Do join and participate actively in live discussions and forums. Aside from making your presence known, you can establish your particular expertise in a field. In no time at all, the other members would be heading to your site and asking you about you business and checking out your services and products.

Social Networking Do's and Don'ts part 2

4. Don't advertise using a pushy market strategy. Soft selling will still be more welcome than hard selling. Utilize your site to get more traffic. Offer free samples of your services, post articles or reviews of your products and attract potential buyers in a subtle way.

5. Do update your site regularly. There is no other reason why people will not visit your site but for the simple fact that it contains the latest and juiciest information that is related to your services and products. It would also help if you check your site all the time for messages left by the other members. You should never forget to reply to these messages to show your respect to that person.

6. Don't forget to establish long-term relationship by visiting the other member's site and showing the same courtesy they have show your site. Just like in real life, these contacts could help promote your business by word of mouth and you would be pleased with the end result.

Many online businesses have benefited from these social networking sites because they never abused the possibilities and potentials it offers. One thing is for sure, the most successful online business has utilized social networking according to what its real purpose is and that is proving the means for people to interact despite distance, time and place.

Get Free massive exposure to your website and its products/services by joining a targeted Social Network where other Entrepreneurs hang out. http://www.BizFriendz.com ( Social Networking Do's and Don'ts)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Clark http://EzineArticles.com/?Social-Networking-Dos-and-Donts&id=619567

More simple do's and don'ts to Social Network Marketing

Here are a few more tips to remember when you are trying to build business on a social networking site.

Personalize your profile - This means actually put something about you in there, NOT just about your business. People like to do business with those they know. Your personal info (likes and dislikes, interests and hobbies) may be the reason someone does business with you instead of your competitor with the exact same offer.
Take it offline - Once you have established a relationship with someone you are interested in, pick up the phone. There's only so much you can do via email or messaging.
Be part of the welcoming committee - Establish yourself with new members early. Most social networking sites have a place to look up who has just joined. Comment on their page or send them an email welcoming them to the site and offering your help if they need it. Be genuine and don't promote your business outside of a small link after your name.
Ask Questions - When posting in comments, don't just post a cute graffic or say "Have a Great Weekend!" This doesn't open a dialog for you to get to know each other better. Ask your new friends questions. For a great source of questions to ask, see the Amazon link below to "The Conversation Piece".
Check Often - If you aren't checking your site(s) regularly, you'll lose ground. This is why it is important to only select two or three sites that you will check up on at least 3 times a week.
Be Easily Reachable - Have several different ways people can reach you. Some will prefer to call you on the phone, some will prefer to instant message you and some prefer to send you an email. By being reachable in several different ways, you increase the chance that people will openly communicate with you when they need to.
Adding Friends - Adding friends to your profile does not automatically give you permission to present your opportunity or product to them either via comments or messages. You wouldn't(or at least most of us wouldn't) walk up to someone, say hello and then start talking about our business opportunity or product. The same goes for the internet. Relationships come first for better, longer and more profitable results.
Accepting Friends - Try using this wording when accepting or adding friends to eliminate the trash that comes from "false" friends. If we all start using it, then maybe they'll start to get the idea.

I would like to add you as a friend. However, before I do; may I be sure that my request for a friendship will not be misunderstood? I am hoping that you will not send me messages about your business or place ads for your business in my comments section. Can I be sure that you do, in fact, truly want to get to know me and become friends with the benefit that IF I become interested in your business or know someone that might be, THEN I will come to you? In exchange, I will agree to treat you as I expect to be treated. That's how I define friends and if you can agree, then I'd be happy to have you as a friend!

Articles and Blog posts

Some of these are great how to's or provide good information. Some will show what not to do.

Can Social Network Marketing work? at Send Out Cards: What if marketers were to actually capitalize on the social networking sites by, well, networking?

There are many articles that indicate the experiment into social network marketing has failed. Has it actually failed or was it just improperly tested?
Who to Keep In Touch With?: Meeting new people on line or off and then keeping in touch with all of them can be incredibly overwhelming. It could eat up all of your free time if you let it. Some things I have found beneficial in determining who is worth keeping up with%u2026
Are You My Friend?: In this blog post, Kim Klaver runs a contest asking how one would respond to a member (Jane) of a social networking site if Jane was to suggest contacting another member (John) about John's business just so Jane could talk about hers. It also asks what someone could do to get the attention they are seeking in social networking sites. There are many great responses.
How to Leverage MySpace for On-Line Riches: This blog post gives steps on how to use MySpace and other social network sites to build business. There are a few points I disagree with including adding up to 250 friends a day. You can't possibly create real relationships doing this. Also, posting bulletins with information about your business, no matter how "unblatant" they may be really only lead to your true intention.
Bizpreneur Does Work - Forum Thread: This thread is from the members and discusses some of the pros and cons of building a business on social networking sites.
Essential Tools for Social Media: Getting social on the web does not just mean having a MySpace page - it is far beyond that!
Just in it for themselves: It can be tough building business on social networking sites because everyone seems to be just in it for themselves. Learn how to take advantage of this.

General Social Networking Sites

These are general sites for anyone though many people will network and build businesses using these sites as well.

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Using Social Networks to Build Business

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Have You Been Net-WORKED?

Social Networking Vids

Social Networking in Plain English

Social Networking Do's and Don'ts part 1

By Rob Clark

Social Networking Do's and Don'ts part 2

More simple do's and don'ts to Social Network Marketing

Articles and Blog posts

General Social Networking Sites

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