subject: How do you use social media for your business? [print this page] How do you use social media for your business?
The importance of consistency in all of the networking areas is paramount to building your community, brand and business. The two biggest trends on the internet are Social Networking and Online Retail. How are you going to capitalise on those two features for your business?
Like everything else in the world, we all seem to be revolving around Social Media. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter are in the news constantly and yes they can be good for your business but how many of you have accounts with the other networking sites Bebo, myspace, Geocities? How many are you still using?
A couple of years ago, well 30 or so, we use to gather around the TV as a social endeavour with the family and neighbours to watch the newest TV program. Even before that, we use to gather around the Radio to listen to the programs and discuss the world happenings.
In the days of TV you had to be available to watch that program, bad luck if you were working on the night when they were showing the program you were dying to watch. The VCR changed that slightly but it was still cumbersome to get it to record the right program at the right time.
So flash forward to today with video streaming and instant downloads of shown programs we are spoilt for choice. No longer do we have to be somewhere to be able to view those loved programs, we can now do it on the train, on the lounge even on the toilet if you want.
Those with TiVo are able to record the newest release program being shown in the US but you have to ensure that you are not part of the twitter universe associated with that program otherwise someone will tell you the good bits over twitter. That part of Twitter is something to look at WOW - what a strange world.
Look at the recent developments with the communication platforms especially smart phones and tablets and something else is now coming to light. These viewing habits are allowing us to capture the old days of gather around the TV. We now have a digital living room but it is not a location, it is more a state of mind. Our friends and family are online in our digital lounge room. They come and go but you can keep track of them with fridge notes and chat.
I have family and old friends in WA and Queensland, my wife has family in US, and Malaysia and we regularly have contact with them through Facebook, Twitter and Skype. We are in contact more now than we were 10 years ago when we were living in the same city.
So where am I going with this?
Well in today's world, building your brand can be done a number of ways. The costly expense of Radio, TV and newspaper advertisements have gone by the wayside and been replaced with thought provoking content from twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. By becoming, a highly respected authority on Twitter allows you to promote your products and services through convincing conversations with other experts in your brand's field.
In this environment you can reach out and touch likeminded individuals anywhere in the world. These individuals have their own following. No matter your brand, there is a niche for your product. You just have to find it, but the more specialised that niche is the more in demand will be your product and the better it is for your business.
So get out there, get on Twitter, start a fan Facebook page for your business and products, link it all back to your website and just see what happens.
