Getting Social: Multi-Part Series on Social Networking Tips

In Part One of this multi-part series, we’ll provide a brief overview of Web 2.0 and social networking, and how it might be leveraged to promote your small business.

A Brief Overview of Web 2.0 & Social Networking
Web 2.0 and Social Networking are interchangeable terms that are used to describe interactive environments and communication strategies applied on the Internet.

Web 2.0 is a general term applied to any website that reacts to the input and activity of its users, such as a blog, a Scribd profile, a forum, or a Squidoo lens. Social Networking is best defined as the regular interaction of people for a common cause.

Why Social Networking Sites Are So Popular
Social Networking sites are enjoying an explosion of popularity. The concept itself really isn’t new – using communities and organizations to promote business is exactly why organizations like trade associations and chambers of commerce exist. It is only recently that social networking sites have become a favorite tool of internet marketers.

Another one of the many reasons why social networking sites are popular is because many are free to use. In fact, the majority of social networking sites, such as Scribd, MySpace and Yahoo! 360, are completely free.

Even if a Web 2.0 site is free, they will require that you register your name and contact info (standard account creation protocol) with them. The registration process will not only allow you to create your own profile page, but it will also allow you to contact other networking members.

There are a few sites that charge a small fee to join, or offer upgrade options that give more benefits to paying members. If you like a site and believe there is value being offered, you may wish to consider investing in a paid membership, as doing so will encourage the growth of the community.

An attractive advantage of paid social networking websites is that many can be considered exclusive. Since most Internet users would not want to pay for something that they can get for free, most paid social networking sites are limited on the number of members they have. This may work out to your advantage because it tends to eliminate those who are more likely to join in order to spam the community with questionable offers.

Using Social Networking Websites to Promote Your Business
Business owners are always on the lookout to identify new, unique and cost efficient ways to promote their products or services. While social networking websites are traditionally geared toward making online friends or developing online relationships, they also provide a unique venue to promote, network, test-market, and build your customer base. These websites will not only allow you to share your business information with other business owners, but they also make it easy to develop close relationships with those that share an interest that is similar to yours. Essentially, this means that you could not only learn valuable business information, but you could also walk away with a new resource, joint-venture partner, affiliate or distributor.

This growing trend among internet users signifies a shift in the way Internet users think, and the way that they seek out information. Like any opportunity, those who see the value in this type of venue and seize it early will reap the largest rewards. By establishing yourself in the early days of a growing network, you will an advantage over the competition.

In our next segment, we’ll learn how to use social networks to identify resources, and we’ll list some “best practices” for participating in social networking website communities.

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