Free and Fun Internet Marketing using Social Networks - Part 2

Written by George Vlismas – www.NetIncomeGuru.com This is the second part of an article introducing people to the concept of Social Networking, and how they can use this method to promote their online or home business. The first part is in an article called Free and Fun Internet Marketing using Social Networks – Part 1 and can be found here: http://EzineArticles.com/?id=3854256 Which Social Sites to use?

OK, so we have covered some general aspects of social networking and how it could be used for effective internet marketing. As a more specific example, we can look at a site like Facebook. It’s very popular and you can of course use it for personal purposes, but it can become highly beneficial for business as well. As stated earlier, you can have two individual accounts to keep your personal and business information separate. On the business side, you can post links to your website when new products are launched, new newsletters are published or you have special events going on. You can keep everyone in your network involved by keeping them updated on newsworthy events in your internet or online business, and use these occasions to keep in touch with your contacts (potential customers) more often. The same principle can be used with sites such as Twitter or Squidoo to further enhance your internet marketing efforts. If you blog, (which you should also be doing) post links on these social networking sites to your newest blog posts (or to guest blog posts you're doing elsewhere around the blogosphere). Highlight contests, guest bloggers and other events that you are a part of. Do you even have an online radio show? You can invite friends to listen to live podcasts to learn more about your internet business. On a site like YouTube, you can post videos and add the links to your Facebook profile, Twitter stream, etc. Interlinking your social networking efforts will one of the most powerful and free internet marketing strategies around! Invite friends to view and leave comments. So it’s the internetworking between all these sites that you are trying to accomplish. The more exposure for you the better! The best part about social sites such as these is that friends and business contacts can pass your links on to others who might be interested in the topics as well. It’s viral marketing at its best and waiting for you take advantage of it! Relationships Are Important The one thing to always remember is that these are called social networking sites for a reason. That’s because of course, they are social in nature. And as such, you have to be tactful about promoting your website or blog on these sites. Blatant advertising or internet marketing is not what social networking is about - You should not doing this solely for promotional purposes.

Relax, take it easy and get to know the people you are trying to reach out to. I think of it as being in a global virtual lounge. That’s why I mentioned it can be a fun way to interact earlier. But also be aware. Social networking can be addictive. In this sense it can be a double edged sword if you're not careful, so setting boundaries will make it addictive in a good way by growing your business. Just like so many other marketing tools, the name of the game is relationships. You can build meaningful ones not only with friends and family, but with your target audience and business associates on all the social networking sites like LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, Facebook of course, and others. Comment on your friends posts and visit their links as well. Be reciprocal. As an Internet marketing tool, social networking works both ways. Don't think of it as a means to an end but one of the more fun marketing tools you get to use to grow your business. The best part - you can do it all for free. If you aren't currently using any social networking platform, now is a great time to start. It can serve dual purposes in your life; both to your benefit. Each business contact you meet, invite them to be your friend or follower. Who knows? You could be connecting with a future joint venture partner or find that diamond in the rough service provider to help you take your business to the next level.

George Vlismas is an online business mentor and entrepreneur who specializes in helping you, and other serious-minded entrepreneurs, use internet marketing to start, build, promote and expand your home based online businesses and create multiple, passive income streams.

http://GeorgeVlismas.com/

http://www.netincomguru.com