| Mention the word Social networking and the first thing | | | | Recruiting: Social networking allows you to reach out |
| that comes to mind for most people is teens using | | | | to individuals you may have never had access to |
| Myspace and YouTube. Social networking has | | | | before. Businesses are utilizing sites like LinkedIn and |
| evolved beyond these two websites making sites | | | | Facebook to recruit employees. This is an outstanding |
| such as LinkedIn, FaceBook and XING common places. | | | | and cost-effective tool to not only recruit employees, |
| Social Networking is no longer a teen phenomenon. | | | | but also engage potential partner's investors and |
| - LinkedIn states that its site includes profiles of more | | | | distributors. |
| than 25 million professionals, with 25 new members | | | | Information sharing with fellow contacts: Are you an |
| joining every minute every day. | | | | expert in your field or industry? Sites like LinkedIn |
| - comScore Video Metrix conducted research and | | | | enable you to ask and answer questions related to |
| found that in December 2007, YouTube had 77.6 | | | | your industry and just share information with |
| million viewers who watched 3.2 billion videos. | | | | professional contacts. |
| "Like traditional networking, the most effective | | | | Video and Audio Podcasts: Share video and audio |
| networking centers on building relationships, engaging | | | | broadcasts and make them available to customers, |
| others, and developing solid word-of-mouth marketing" | | | | employees and your network. If you own an interior |
| said Patrice-Anne Rutledge author of Profiting from | | | | design or landscaping business, why not take video |
| Social Networking. | | | | footage of your work to share with the social |
| Here are some of the benefits of implementing social | | | | network! Maybe a video podcast will not work for |
| networking for your business: | | | | your topic of discussion. Audio podcasts are an |
| Advertise products and services: Don't have a large | | | | excellent way to delivery topics related to health |
| marketing budget. Social Networking is a | | | | issues, business, education and technology. |
| cost-effective approach for businesses operating on a | | | | Helpful Resources Include: |
| tight budget or even looking to use another medium. | | | | How to Say it: Marketing with New Media by Lena |
| The NFL used Myspace during the 2007 and 2008 | | | | Claxton and Alison Woo |
| Superbowl to showcase the commercials. Viewers | | | | Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Podcasting |
| were able to post comments on their favorite or not | | | | by Michael W. Geoghegan and Dan Klass |
| so favorite commercial. This type of medium can be a | | | | The Truth about Profiting from Social Networking by |
| great spring board for you to showcase new products | | | | Patrice-Anne Ruledge |
| and services that you might be contemplating. | | | | YouTube for Business: Online Video Marketing for Any |
| Market research: Companies study customer | | | | Business by Michael Miller |
| behaviors and purchasing patterns. Social networking | | | | Social networking can be profitable to your business in |
| lets you conduct your own market research with | | | | many ways. Just like any marketing campaign, there's |
| existing and potential customers. A great website to | | | | a potential for an increase in revenue, reach into new |
| track what customers are saying is Yelp! ( "Real | | | | markets but most of all name recognition. You don't |
| Reviews, Real People." Customers have a chance to | | | | need to incorporate all of the social networks out |
| provide views on services rendered from various | | | | there, but find the one that fits your business |
| industries which include spas, hotels and travel, | | | | environment and work with that until you are |
| restaurants, real estate and professional services. | | | | comfortable and then add another. |