I hear a lot about social networking sites these days. It can get very overwhelming just figuring out where to spend your time, how much time to spend, and how to use the sites for business networking as opposed to personal networking. Let me chime in on the sites I use most and why.
LinkedIn - LinkedIn.com
I believe LinkedIn, in my opinion, is the most formal of the social networking sites. Basically, you post your profile on the site, and invite people to join your network. There is a standard email you can send to people you know, which you can personalize. If the person you ask to join your network accepts, he or she becomes one of your "connections." You then have access to any of their "connections." The only caveat is that in order to network with the people listed in their "connections,' you need to ask the person you originally connected with to introduce you. If all goes well and this third person agrees, you can then network with this person, and possibly be connected to he or she as well.
There are various groups set up on LinkedIn, such as e-Biz and the International Association of Solopreneurs. The purpose of these groups is to share and have discussions. If you are so inclined, you can even start your own group.
I find that LinkedIn is great if you are looking for a job in the corporate world, or trying to find someone you either went to school with or worked with in the past. Other than that, I personally don't find much more value in it, except for networking within the various groups.
Twitter - Twitter.com
This site is by far the easiest to use, since there is not much to it. Its main purpose is for you to answer the question "What are you doing?" in 140 characters or less. If you are new to social networking, this might be the best place for you to start.
Once you set up your account, let others know what you are up to by answering the question. Then you can find people to "follow," who in turn can then "follow" you. This is a fun way to keep up-to-date with your friends, but what about your business contacts? Well, you can share links, send them direct messages, and share quick tidbits about your business.
When you set up your profile on Twitter, it appears in a small box on the right-hand side of the screen. What others will see when they go to your profile:
* Name
* Location
* Web
* Bio
Make sure to highlight your business in your short bio, if you are trying to attract business networking partners instead of personal! While I like the quick, no-nonsense approach to networking on this site, my all-time favorite is Facebook.
Facebook - Facebook.com
Facebook is loaded with bells and whistles, and you can post just about anything on your profile. Among other things, you can:
* share links
* post videos
* post events
* post photos
* join groups
* find friends and business colleages
* add applications (personal or business-related, based on your interests)
* link to your Twitter, Facebook and other accounts
There is so much to do in Facebook, I sometimes get overwhelmed. But it's so much fun keeping up with what my friends and clients are up to! I find this is a great place to catch up, and usually spend fifteen minutes or more a day on the site. If someone posts about something I want to comment about, I can put a comment right underneath it. I can write on my friends' walls, and wish them a Happy Birthday when their special day comes along. I can even add a signup box to my profile, so that people who find me can sign up for my ezine if they're interested.
All of these sites are free to join, and I encourage you to join at least one if you are serious about networking online. It's the wave of the future. There is so much to share online these days, so why not get involved by jumping on the bandwagon?
© 2009 Cynthia Morse, Virtually At Your Service. All rights reserved.
Cynthia Morse, CAP is a Virtual Assistant, and the owner of Virtually At Your Service, http://www.virtuallyatyourservice.biz
She partners with solopreneurs and micro businesses by offering top-notch administrative support from her home office, allowing her clients the time to focus on what they love and do best. To sign up for her bi-weekly ezine Virtual Results, plus receive a FR*EE special report called "3 Secrets Millionaires Use to Maximize Their Time," visit http://www.YourVirtualResultsPartner.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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