The Power of Social Networking and its Affect on Your Business

On a daily basis, millions of web browsers flock to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Linked In, Better Networker, YouTube, and many, many others across the Internet. Just recently, Facebook reached 200 million users and that number is climbing by the hour. The average person spends 19-25 minutes per day social networking.

Due to their popularity, social networking sites provide a fantastic platform for meeting new people and expanding your skill set by learning from others. And, they can be downright addicting, too!

Many home-based business owners are using these sites as a way to market their business. But to do this effectively, there are some things you want to be aware of. It’s important to treat these sites like any live networking event. When you’re at a mixer or social event, you don’t try to sell your business or product everyone you meet. You mingle and get to know people. Facebook, Twitter, and the others are the exact same thing and can be a tremendous asset to your home-based business if utilized correctly.

You always want be transparent on these sites. You’re providing a sneak peek into your life, so don’t be afraid to share your story, hobbies, interests, favorite books and movies, and goals. Always provide a way for people to check out your business, but don’t blatantly throw it in their face. Once someone gets to know you, they’ll naturally be interested in what you do.

In addition, as I mentioned before, don’t try to blatantly sell your product or business opportunity. This is a tremendous turn-off and people will quickly ignore you. Instead, interact with people you share common ground with on other levels, such as opinions on a movie or favorite sports team. Any social gathering you attend is not filled with people peddling their products, but rather people socializing about current events, sports, activities, and a wide variety of subjects.

Remember, the world does not revolve around your business. So don’t try to make it the focal point of every conversation you have.

Finally, and most importantly, you always want to provide value to your social network friends and connections. If you find an article or video that holds value for you, chances are it will hold value for many of your connections as well. After all, your network is mainly comprised of people who share similar interests. The more value you provide, the more people are going to grow to know you, trust you, and, over time, want to do business with you.

Despite the popularity, ease of use, and fun of Internet social networking, it’s also important to network in your community as well. Joining entrepreneur groups, referral clubs, and attending chamber and networking events will never go out of style, regardless of how much momentum Twitter, Facebook, and the others continue to gain. Getting to know other business owners in your area through the aforementioned methods can give your business a tremendous boost and build your network even more so.