News flash, the online networks are increasing daily through social media outlets such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Well this is not exactly breaking news in fact these social media gorillas have member increases by the minute. Each day the number of users worldwide that login to Facebook and LinkedIn are increasing. It was estimated not long ago that Facebook had over 350 million users, probably closer to 400 million by now and LinkedIn with over 50+ million users to date. If your business is global you can sure bank on increasing foreign numbers as well considering roughly 70% of Facebook users come from outside the US.
There are many reasons to set up a Facebook Fan Page or a LinkedIn profile to act as a bridge to contacts, consumers and friends all over the world. Setting up a business fan page on Facebook and creating a LinkedIn profile allows at the very least for people to find you or your website through back linking. When you’re able to create an online presence and marketing buzz you create momentum and drive traffic to your website. This is a goal that can be reached when you use these social media tools. Depending on your target market or your business you can determine which one works best but you should certainly set up both accounts. Here are some reasons you should consider.
1. A Facebook Fan Page creates a platform to provide prospects, contacts and customers to connect with your business. You can provide company news feeds, sale information, set up a calendar for upcoming events. Another communication bridge is always a positive.
2. When you set up a fan page you can invite friends and colleagues on Facebook to join your page. When they subscribe they will be informed of company happenings which also creates word of mouth buzz. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
3. The most important reason to set up a Facebook Fan Page is it creates brand recognition and awareness. You can explain your business and or services for anyone on Facebook to view. These are just three proven reasons for creating a fan page and for reasons on using LinkedIn are discussed below.
1. LinkedIn can be described as the formal version of social media. LinkedIn is a business network for educated and connected people that can help bridge the gap for job opportunities, networking, job postings and just a great way to connect with industry leaders.
2. A LinkedIn profile can be used as a running resume, so to speak, that can help keep your contacts up to date with current projects or recommendations. Another great feature of LinkedIn is you can request recommendations from previous relationships or jobs that act as your own review source.
3. Visibility. If we haven’t emphasized it enough, if you stay active in social media you’re staying active with your community.
There are many reasons to use Facebook and LinkedIn and the applications and way we search the web are changing with each passing month. Social media is a great platform to promote, help, correspond, advertise and educate.
Successful Business Uses for Facebook and LinkedIn (GF202)
With more social media sites hitting the market at a rapid pace, we want to briefly introduce you to five that will help increase your websites traffic. These five sites are not just used to help drive traffic but they also help with search engine ranking, building your brand, increase customer relations and help you build a name for yourself as an expert in your field.
1. Facebook – This is number one on our list since it is the largest social media networking site. You can create a Facebook page for your business and website including links, bio, pictures, contact information and blog updates. Facebook is a great resource for networking with people all over the globe who share common interests or professions.
2. Twitter – This is what’s called a “micro-blogging” social network site. Members are able to share short text posts no more than 140 characters. Twitter posts can be made directly from your cell phone which makes it a very convenient way to keep your followers in the loop.
3. LinkedIn – This is the most popular business networking social media site. This is a great way to post a profile of your business to enable you to connect with other business minded individuals.
4. Stumbleupon – This is a popular tool that allows you to “like or dislike” websites as a way of recommending them to the world. If Stumbleupon gives your website a good ranking your, site will be showed in the results more often.
5. Delicious - A popular bookmarking site that allows you to share links to your favorite website or articles. You can comment on other member’s links which in turn will show your profile page for each comment you make. The more comments you make the more people you encourage to visit your profile page which in turn leads to more traffic!
These are just five of the many social media tools available for personal or business use. These tools provide an opportunity for any business to engage customers and spread the word about your website or business.
