subject: Are You Using Social Media to Your Best Advantage? [print this page] Are You Using Social Media to Your Best Advantage?
Here's an interesting little blog post about how to use social media like Twitter, Facebook and blogging effectively.
Francois Muscat of WSI (We Simplify the Internet) had the following suggestions on how to get involved with social media:
Targeting: Research blogs that are related to the group you want to target.
Participate: Once you have found your audience and you start to read the same things they're reading, comment on them. Be active in the online community. If they're reading one thing and see that you've commented, then they'll find you too. The idea is to cultivate online relationships with customers and other businesses. Making the most of social networking takes time.
Blogging: A blog is the perfect outlet for your company. You can link to other blogs or articles that affect your business, and it's a free press room. Anyone who stumbles upon you can get an unfiltered access to anything you want to tell them.
Building links: Link Link Link! Anything you can link to that relates to you and your business you should be linking to. When you comment on a blog, include a link, when you find an article that you mention in your own blog, include a link. The more connected you are to the web the easier it will be for search engine's "spiders" to "crawl" to your page. Sun Medical Supplies profile on TheDesert247.com is an example of a business taking full advantage of the social networking widgets available to them on a local business directory site like GoLocal247.com. Notice how they have linked to their Facebook fan page to their business profile?
Build authority: The biggest advantage of being online with a blog and online listing is that it allows you to be closer to your audience. If you're actively participating in other social networks and have that level of transparency you will be seen as an expert in your field which drives more business to your door.
The bottom line is that the key to being successful with social media is to get involved and to network with other people. If you do, your business will see increased prospects, visitors and customers.
How are using social media for your small or medium sized business? What kind of results have you seen from it? Let us know by leaving a comment below or e-mailing webadmin@golocal247.com.
