Social media roundup

With so many social networking sites out there, it's hard to know where to start.

With this in mind, One World Linked-Up has created a social networking roundup, exploring a
number of sites making waves in this groundbreaking new medium.

We'll start with the so-called Big Three, the most popular social networkng sites among businesses
looking to form significant connections, strengthen their brands and drive meaningful traffic.

With some 500 million users worldwide, Facebook is the most popular social networking outlet
in the world. Thousands of businesses have set up Facebook fan pages to promote their
companies and provide a frienedly face for their brand.

There are myriad reasons you should add your business to that number, not least of which is the fact
that Facebook fan pages are visible to search engines.

Many people even use Facebook like a search engine itself, typing in keywords of interest to see which
businesses are online. For instance, if you type the word "cosmetics" in Facebook's search function,
you get a lenghty list of makeup companies, topped by the popular MAC corporation.

Whatever your industry, you NEED to be on that list.

With your Facebook fan page, you can. . .

*Help potential customers find you on- and off-line

*Encourage first-time and return visits with fun and rewarding features like polls and contests.

*Interact with fans via a Facebook wall where you encourage customer questions and feedback.
Don't forget to respond regularly to this forum, so visitors KNOW they're involved in a real conversation.

*Offer exclusive deals and incentives to Facebook fans, allowing you to court new customers and track your ROI.

*Let customers to to post reviews of your product or service. If you're confident in what you're doing, why
not let satisfied customers serve as brand ambassadors? Use any posting expressing misgivings to assess
how you can get even better.

*Promote your other media streams. For instance, you can offer prominent links to your blog or your YouTube content
or feature a feed from your Twitter account.

*Turn your virtual community into a real one by inviting your fans to special
events. How about a conference, open house or mixer?

With more than 200 million users worldwide, Twitter is the second most popular social networking outlet. It's time to join
the throng, because a growing number of your customers are there and waiting.

With each update clocking in at only 140 characters, Twittering may seem like a frivolous function. In reality, it's a highly
effective means of communication.

Twitter users scan through countless posts. They say what they are thinking, and discuss what they're buying. They pose
questions. They re-post items of interest. They chat in real-time. In short, they engage in a vibrant ongoing conversation.

Many people log on every day, in a ritual as regular as drinking their morning coffee or watching the evening news. Some even
stay logged on throughout the day, switching from work to Twitter when they need connection, inspiration and diversion.

By jumping into this phenomenal media stream, you have the opportunity to forge a strong connection with the people you serve,
and with those you'd like to.

Don't forget to add a little personality to your Twitter profile and posts. Create a friendly and professional face for your business.
As social media expert Aaron Lee says,"Nobody wants to talk to a LOGO unless it is a famous brand."

What are you waiting for? It's amazing what you can accomplish with a little "tweet."

With Twitter you can. . .

*Hold real-time conversations with members of your network. How about posing a question to encourage a healthy back-and-forth?

*Respond quickly to customer concerns.

*Offer exclusive incentives for Twitter followers, allowing you to court new customers and track your ROI. How about including
a coupon code in one of your tweets?

*Use the search function to find out what's happening in your industry, what your competition is doing online and what people are
saying about you and your brand.

* Promote events, meetups and tweetups.

*Micro-blog, posting tips, insights and pertinent links that engage readers and help grow your authority.

*Gain surprising access to high-profile individuals and industry leaders. Many of these are more likely to respond to Twitter posts and
messages than emails or cold calls.

*Help potential customers find you on- and off-line

*Encourage first-time and return visits with fun and rewarding features like polls and contests.

*Promote your other media streams. For instance, you can offer prominent links to your blog or your YouTube content

LinkedIn is one linked-up community: As of January 2011, this business-oriented social networking site had garnered 90 million registered users.

With LinkedIn you can. . .

*find employees, or employment.

*gain exposure to valuable contacts "and business opportunities recommended by someone in one's contact network."

*Get a contact you trust to introduce you to someone who matters, whether they be an industry leader or potential customer. This kind of networking turns a cold call--which social networking guru Alex Iskold says ( http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/business_development_20.php ) have lost effectiveness in today's business climate--into a "warm call."

Used LinkedIn Polls is LinkedIn Polls to conduct research into your clientele, market or industry.

*add feed from your blog or Twitter to your LinkedIn profile and, in general, promote multiple media streams.

*use the Questions and Answers feature to pose a question to up to 200 of your immediate contact. What a resource for tapping into others' expertise!

*use Questions and Answers to answer questions, and get your response rated for helpfulness. It's a great way to build your credibility.

*create a poll to help you research your market and customer base.

*turn your satisfied customers into helpful references by asking them to provide a LinkedIn recommendation.

*research prospective customers before you contact or meet them.

*build your credibility as an expert within your field by providing links to useful and informative articles and content.

*expand your network by joining groups related to your business, industry and educational background.

*promote your events

* Gain your contacts' gratitude and trust by writing recommendations; making sure they're honest and discerning will help your credibility grow!

Just getting started

By learning more about the Big Three, you've made significant progress towards joining the social media revolution.
We've only scratched the surface, though.

There are countless other sites that businesses find valuable. Click here to continue with our roundup, which will next
focus on the benefits of location-based sites like Foursquare and Yelp.