I remember when I was a little boy, how I used to marvel at the futuristic gadgets that Walter Cronkite would display in the Sunday night program, The 21st Century.The program was designed around scientific advances that could re-shape our lives in the next century.The 21st Century seemed so far away to a little boy in the 1960s.But here we are.
In the 1996, my interest was piqued with Bill Gate’s books, The Road Ahead. In this book, Bill Gates predicted that we were nearing a society where financial transactions, product research, file transfers, and such could be transacted though the internet on a device the size of a checkbook.
How ironic, within the next decade, Steven Jobs would spearhead the invention of the Iphone.Users now bring up all sorts of applications including social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc. These social networks are becoming the foundation of the new business communication.
But, how do these social networks impact business? So many businesses just stick their toe in the SN waters. Can business really take advantage them?
The answer is a guarded “yes”.
The advantages of such networks are communication and visibility. Implemented correctly, vehicles like FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogging, and others can enhance your company’s visibility, and draw the world to your web site.With increased visibility comes opportunity.
There is a downside to these opportunities, however. Employees can post criticism on blogs that may hurt the firm’s reputation.In addition, the opportunities with any of these networks can be a bottomless pit sapping into employees time with no immediate response.
Like any tool, the internet can be the piece of your strategy that increases your market share, if used correctly. If used incorrectly, it could be a wasteful tool.
So, here are a few basic tips when your business ventures into social media:
- Concentrate on building relationships, not just numbers. It’s nice to see the numbers grow, but if many are not viable business contacts, then so what?
- Don’t spam people with your services. Give them something to take home with them every time you connect.
- Build partnerships among those who have similar business interests, or work in a similar industry.
- Don’t just copy what others are doing in your industry. Set yourself apart by using your core competancies to create your own uncompetative ocean (i.e., Blue Ocean).
- Be consistent, be creative, but be real in your daily social networking business strategy.
- Write about relevant topics that concern your market place.
These six points will give you a start in developing a real social networking strategy for your business. A very important point not listed, though is that you start today.