Social networking is no longer a cliché. It has moved beyond the Gen-X angst filled online community spaces such as MySpace, Orkut, Hi5 to more business-oriented websites such as LinkedIn and Yelp!. Currently, social networking websites are offering a tremendous amount of opportunities for small entrepreneurs to reach out to their prospective customers and build a successful business.
Social networking to benefit your business may sound like a crazy idea, but trust us, it’s a sure way to increase visibility, create a reputation, and build credibility over the internet. The first thing you need to know is where to begin. The two most popular business social networking sites are:
LinkedIn – Ideal for further your business or career, this social networking site is equally suitable for all professionals, as well as job seekers, employers, freelancers, and small time entrepreneurs.
Yelp! – This review website pretty much allows members to evaluate all kinds of local business; right from restaurants and pet care to supermarkets and fitness centers. If you have a business that caters to the local market, you need to be seen on Yelp! Also, make sure you spend sometime in reading and responding to the views expressed by your existing or potential customers.
Finally, building trust and taking negative criticism and turning it into a positive with the help of social networking websites is one of the best tools in your internet market armor and you must always use this tool judiciously to build your online business to strastopheric levels.