Work at Home Moms > General Internet Marketing Articles > Online Social Networking

Online Social Networking

Social networking. We’ve done it all our lives; from neighborhood ball games to dinner parties and matchmaking, we’ve introduced our friends to each other. Business colleagues meet for lunch to make connections and hopefully a sale or two. And the unemployed call on their business network in hopes of making a job connection.

On the Internet, Social Networking started as online dating services and is spreading its wings to match people with similar interests in anything from sports to music to business and politics. Basically to start a social network, someone posts a profile on a social networking site and invites her friends to do the same. Soon there’s an entire network connecting friend to friend to friend with the potential to spread endlessly around the world.

But what is the benefit of knowing a friend of a friend of a friend? How will that ever widening circle help you?

Set up your business profile
Your business profile should focus on business and the personal information you include should be limited to the basics such as some of your hobbies or other interests, and a little information about your family and where you live. Include only the things you’d talk about in “polite” conversation in mixed company. Unless it is directly related to the product or services you provide, it’s not helpful to your business to talk about your financial problems, marital problems, or to complain about neighbors or customers. Save those topics for your social profile.

Your profile introduces you and your business to others in the network. Use it to highlight your business strengths and offer personalized customer service. Keep it up to date and professional.

Choose who you link to
In a sense, linking to others in a network is like making recommendations for their business. Just as I might ask my neighbor to refer me to her plumber or electrician, I can go to my friends’ networks to find a website designer or a gift for my Aunt. Randomly adding everyone to your network would be a bit like just going through the yellow pages to collect phone numbers and then recommending an unknown business when your neighbor asks for a good hairdresser. Build a network of businesses you are familiar with and can confidently recommend to your others.

You can offer your customers and clients an added service by linking to complimentary products and services. If you offer web design you can link to other services your clients may need such as web hosts, copywriters, virtual assistants and SEO services. If you sell gourmet food, link to party supply, cookware, and food storage consultants.

Use your network
Just as you’d like potential customers find you through your networks, be sure to use friends’ networks when you need a product or service. The old saying “what goes around comes around,” applies to social networking. Let people know you found them through the network and they’ll be more apt to return the favor when they are in need of something.

Set aside some time each week to just browse your friends’ networks. When you find someone you have something in common, sign her guest book or invite him to join your network. Find members to whom you can offer complimentary services and products and ask to join their network. Don’t use this time as a way to spam others’ with your ads, but rather make appropriate contacts.

In some network profiles, Ryze.com for example, profiles list a persons “haves” and “wants.” When you can provide what someone else wants, take the opportunity to set up a barter of goods or services or even a strategic partnership.

Most of the networks also offer message boards or interest groups. Participating in these groups is a good way to get to know other business owners. Offer advice and information in your area of expertise when appropriate. Again, be careful not to spam the groups with your ads.

Like any other online activity, it’s easy to lose track of time in social networking. Make sure the time you spend is productive and if you find you’re spending too much time in the networks and not getting your other work, make a specific schedule for your networking time and stick to it.

Some of more well known social networking sites:

• Ryze.com offers business and social connections. They offer free and paid memberships. Offers network groups with message boards and offline meetings.
• Friendster.com is a social network. It is free while it is still in beta testing.
• Linkedin.com is a business network that is still in beta and therefore free to join. Having someone in your network introduce you through the network makes connections.
• Tribe.net is a social network that is free to join. Classified ads, consumer opinions and job hunting help are also offered.
• Meetup.com offers both business and social networking and has a large political group. Meetup's focus is on arranging offline meetings for it’s members. Local "chapters" of international groups all meet on the same day each month.
• Orkut.com is more like a private club… membership is only open to those who have been invited by an existing member. It offers both social and business networking and is free to join.

Other social networks:

• Zero Degrees
• Tickle
• My Space
• Its Not What you Know
• And in case your favorite pooch is in need of some social networking, there’s Dogster.com

____________
Linda Stacy is General Manager and Newsletter Assistant Editor for InternetBasedMoms.com. She works from her home in Massachusetts where she lives with her husband and son. Visit her Ryze page.