social media for business

If you’re a business owner who’s done any amount of marketing research, chances are you know the value of an effective social network marketing strategy. These social media networks are literally vast watering holes full of consumers, and if you’re not taking advantage of their accessibility, you’re missing out. Utilizing social media to gain business is probably one of the easiest marketing strategies out there. By making smart choices and sending the right message, you can effectively reach millions of customers on your own, without having to hire professional help. While you’ve most likely heard of these top 4 social media sites, you may not be using them to their fullest extent. So we’ve broken them down to help you boost your business ASAP!

Image by Mario Sundar

Facebook

This social media giant is the number one choice for business owners who want access to millions of consumers and their wallets. With 845 million active monthly users, Facebook offers plenty of opportunities for businesses to connect to the public. Try adding Facebook connect buttons to your website, use Facebook to connect and interact with your customers and add incentives like coupon postings or special deals on your Facebook page. That’s just a few ways to get started using Facebook for your benefit, and it’s all free.

Unlike Facebook, LinkedIn is a professional social media site by design. Rather than building a friend or fan base, you are able to build a network of people who are interested in the exact services or product you are offering. Companies not only use LinkedIn to generate business, but it can be used in the hiring and networking processes as well. By creating a clear, concise description of your company, adding a call to action that will get people excited about your product and promoting your group, you can attract thousands of people to your network that you would otherwise never have reached. Just make sure everything is grammatically correct and extremely professional—LinkedIn isn’t a Facebook replica!

Twitter

While Twitter is most commonly known for its connectivity to the personal lives of the stars, more businesses are turning to Twitter for marketing purposes. There are so many Twitter business tools available that it can sometimes be overwhelming. However, it isn’t necessary to dive in head-first. By simply creating a Twitter account for your company and connecting with people, you will get your brand out there. Keep your information up-to-date, follow leading individuals in your industry, retweet (retweeting is quoting someone else’s tweet!) useful information and make an effort to be retweetable. Not only will you gain followers, but you will reach new consumers every time someone else retweets your correspondence. With over 500 million users, Twitter can be your business’ best friend.

YouTube

YouTube is often overlooked as a valuable social media marketing website. However, not only do YouTube users watch over 4 billion videos a day, but you can integrate your YouTube videos into your Facebook and Twitter pages. Try posting a few do-it-yourself videos for a simple service your company offers. Not only will viewers appreciate the free advice, but they’re likely to remember your name when it comes time to opening their wallet as well. Let’s say a car part retailer offers free installation videos on YouTube. Not only do they reach a huge viewership, but when it comes time to purchase the car parts, their name is fresh on the minds of their consumers.

Old-school marketing strategies are not exactly a thing of the past. While these old techniques are successful reaching one group of people, online social media sites can span the globe with information on your business. Your brand has the potential to make it into the living rooms of people all across the world. All you have to do it get your name out there!

About the Author: David Skimmer is a business consultant who enjoys web design and is a contributing author for backgroundcheck.org

When you’re an entrepreneur, you know you can’t do things alone. While you may have the big ideas and the willingness to put everything on the line for them, you need some help if you really want to succeed and grow your business. And when you’re just starting out, you know how invaluable good mentors and connections are. For these reasons, social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn just won’t cut it for you as an entrepreneur. When you’re looking for a place to connect with other entrepreneurs, try one of these six social networks that are specifically for you.

PartnerUp.com
PartnerUp is an excellent community for entrepreneurs. It does exactly what the name implies – helps you find people to partner with to grow your business. It also does much more. If you’re looking to get involved with a small business already in progress, you can find listings for opportunities. You can also find commercial real estate for sale, and find vendors and service providers that you may need. It’s a great place to network with other entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Biznik.com
Biznik is a social network for independent business people. It focuses on helping you make connections with other independent business people like yourself. With Biznik, you can locate people and businesses in your area and beyond that can help support you and assist you in growing your business. Biznik is a great place to converse with like-minded people and score some great advice.

Entrepreneur Connect (EConnect.Entrepreneur.com)
Entrepreneur Connect is another place to meet other entrepreneurs like you. Membership is free, and the best way to use Entrepreneur Connect is by joining some of the rich and diverse groups. In groups, you can discuss anything with other businesspeople in your niche. You can ask and answer questions, form beneficial relationships, and learn more about your industry. There is also a Marketplace with listings for everything from legal services to logo design to real estate.

Ryze.com
Ryze is a growing social network that appeals to many different types of users. From CEOs of large companies to hopeful small business entrepreneurs, you can meet a wide range of people and professionals. Ryze focuses on allowing you to grow your contact base and meet new people. There are event listings and classifieds to explore, too.

PerfectBusiness.com
PerfectBusiness allows you to connect with others, but it also offers a lot more. There is a wealth of resources, including articles, videos, and software, that will help you with the entire entrepreneurial process. When you’re just starting out, this website is a great place to begin learning about everything from writing a business plan to finding investors. And you can form some valuable relationships that will help you along the way.

TheFunded.com
TheFunded is a growing community that focuses on the financial side of entrepreneurship. It’s a place where you can connect with other entrepreneurs to discuss things like financing and investing. It also helps you learn about venture capitalists (VCs) that can help you, and members rate their experiences with different VCs and funds.

Venture Capitalist M.P. Brown loves the thrill of the start up and the challenges of running his own business. For finding new business opportunities, he stays actively involved in business networks.