Using Social Networking Sites for Your Online Business Traffic Generation
Published November 20th, 2007I’m increasingly taking advantage of social networking sites to promote my blogs, products, other peoples products and to share information, but I have to say that I am still a bit of a newcomer. I came across this interesting article on traffic generation through social networking and thought it would make an interesting read for my readers. I’ve certainly got some new ideas after reading it.
Social networking sites have become very popular amongst internet users to keep in touch with their friends, colleagues and families. However, social networking sites can also be used to generate traffic to your website, if you know how to do it properly and legally.
Creating an Account at a Social Networking Site for Your Online Business
Firstly, create an account solely for your internet business. You can have it under your own name or under your business name. Be sure to check the terms of services for the social networking sites you’ve joined as some sites prohibit blatant advertising on their sites.
Changing an Existing Account to Reflect More on Your Internet Business
If you have an account, but have used it for personal contacts with friends and relatives, create a new account. You want your social networking site webpage to reflect the nature of your business and to appear professional. Get rid of any music videos, unrelated pictures and photos or any applications and widgets that may make your social networking site webpage appear unprofessional, messy or downright silly.
Introducing Your Skills and Services on Social Networking Sites
In your profile area, you can describe the nature of your internet business as well as introduce your skills and services. You may mention that you are a freelance website graphics designer, an internet copywriter, a web programmer or whatever skills and talents you may have. You may also state any educational background and work experience that relates to your online business, as well as any joint-venture partnerships and product launches that you were involved with in the past.
Promoting Your Products Without Spamming and Getting Banned
If you intend to promote your products, you may write a short but concise description of the project you are working on in the blog area of your social networking site you’ve joined. Try to engage your readers with the process of product creation but do not make your blog posts too ‘hypey’. If the site you joined does not offer a blog, you can write about your product launch on your webpage ‘wall’ as seen on Facebook. Whatever promotion you do through the social networking sites, never spam other members or you will be banned.
Adding Videos of Your Product or Website on Social Networking Sites
If the social networking site you’ve joined is Youtube itself, you can safely add videos of your product launch or website, as done by many marketers nowadays. On Facebook, you can add videos on your ‘wall’ to promote your products. If you are promoting via MySpace and Friendster, be careful that your promotional videos are not going against their terms of services to avoid being banned.
Avatar: Company Logo or Your Photo on the Social Networking Sites?
For a more personal feel, you can add your own photo as the avatar for your social networking site profile. However, if you are working as a team, you may decide to put a company logo or a logo that represents your internet marketing team. Whatever you choose is up to you and what works for your marketing strategy.
Using Social Networking Sites to Interact with Visitors and Potential Customers
You can use your membership in any social networking site as a way to interact and ask feedback from your visitors and potential customers. Some social networking sites provide widgets or applications with polls that you can use to ask your visitors for opinions on your products or conduct a survey for a particular market. If appropriate, you may also provide your opt-in form to a free report so that visitors will subscribe to your newsletter.
Using Social Networking Sites for Traffic Generation
The main purpose for having a social networking site for your internet business is for traffic generation. Be it promoting through videos, photos or plain text, the main point is to get your visitors to click through to your main site and hopefully buy your products. There are many widgets and applications on social networking sites that may distract you from your main goal. The key is to focus. If done right, social networking sites can and will add quality traffic to your website.
The author of this article is also the owner of:
Pemasaran Internet Free stuff internet marketing social bookmarking social networking traffic Traffic Generation Web 2.0
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