It’s a great thing for your business, but how should you go about it?
- Join networks (sites) that are relevant to the people you want to connect with.
- Be smart with your profile. This may be a first impression of you. It’s also an opportunity to increase your SEO.
- Add friends and join groups because they are relevant. (Don’t aim for quantity.)
- Create strategic partnerships with other companies.
- Keep in mind the human element rules this forum. Write like you speak.
- Don’t write things as though your reader is your best friend. You want to connect with people, but that doesn’t mean you should write about the date you went on last night.
- Create a blog to go full circle with your communication.
- Include employees in the process. They will strengthen the voice and logically fit into your network.
- Reference your social networking site in your other materials, especially on your company site.
What sites are out there?
LinkedIn and Fastpitch are great for connecting with other professionals.
Xing is good for getting your presence recognized overseas.
Facebook and Myspace are great for reaching consumers. (Speaking of Facebook, we have company and group pages, just search for “GCI Ad Agency” and both will come up in site’s results.)
Twitter is as a place to share what you’re up to with other professionals or consumers.
Yelp is a place to list your local business and encourage discussion about it.
WordPress running a blog on your site can add punch to communication when people are viewing your fullest web presence. (You’re looking at what WordPress can do right now.)
A list of other networking sites can be found here.
As always, you don’t have to start this venture alone, we’re happy to help guide you. Please feel free to call and come in or ask questions by commenting on this post.
By the way, we’re on Facebook. (Search for “GCI Ad Agency”. We have both company and group pages.)
-Jenny
