Social Networking Send Off...

Don't mis-react to the buzz and send your visitors away!

Social Networking Sites are all the Buzz

With all the buzz about social networking sites many web site owners are looking to maximize their exposure and take advantage of the marketing opportunities afforded by getting their business on-board. However, there are a few common misconceptions that should be cleared up and some fairly significant mistakes many are making.

The first and most important thing to realize is that social networking sites are all about people. Individuals that share in a group discussion. Anything to do with business is really just a fringe or side aspect that comes from people sharing information about or discussing business there. In the end though it's all about the people. So on to common myth #1...

"I need to get my business on Facebook"
No. You as a person should be there (and perhaps your staff and supporters too) and you can talk about your business, but you have a web site for your business already - what you want is people talking about your business on Facebook and other social networking sites and then going to your actual web site. Not a second place for business information which will sap your time from updating your actual web site and dilute your information.

The next is a fairly common mistake that relates to the first myth"

"I need to link to Facebook from my business site"
Gosh no! what you need is to have a link the opposite way around. You want people coming to your web site not leaving it. Remember every link off your site is telling your visitors (customers) to leave. Exactly what you do not want to do and especially not to a site that is full of information about all manner of other places for them to go (ie: your competitors)

What you really want is a link the other direction. If you want to add anything to your own web site you need something like the free widget from http://www.addthis.com to try and get others to mention your web site on their personal social networking pages (remember all about people) and include links back to your site. Putting a link from your site over to the social networking site is, not only, and invitation to your visitors to leave and go exploring elsewhere but also implies that you're keeping your news and information up to date on that web site rather then on your business one - this sends completely the wrong message and she be avoided at all costs.

SO, how do you take advantage of the current social networking fad (and yes it is a fad) without falling prey to the myths and mistakes?

First keep your business to your business site and encourage people to discuss it on social networking sites.

Second make it easy for people the link FROM the social networking sites back to yours but do not link the other way.

Finally, remember that social networking sites are a bit of a fad - there is huge momentum at present but this won't last forever - yes get on the bandwagon, but it's not a miracle cure - nothing is - so you still need to keep up with your regular marketing efforts.

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