Business Networking Through Social Media

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Growing Business Relationships Through Social Media

As business owners it is absolutely necessary to establish relationships and continue to network – CONSTANTLY! We rarely use the traditional Rolodex. Instead, we have now moved on to using the digital contact list on our smart phones, Microsoft outlook, or whatever software we have. In today’s world, having a list of meaningful connections (people who you actually know) is invaluable. Some of the top networking sites to use are, Linkedin.com, Twitter.com, and Facebook.com.

Strategies on how to begin your connections:

•  Create a profile about YOU as the business owner separate from the business.
• YOU are the entrepreneur. It is nice to have an “About Jim Smith” page on your business website, however, do not focus the introduction of your website about how you started your business. Rather, focus your website intro on the mission of your business, products, services, and goal you will be providing to your target audience.
• Linkedin.com: Create a profile on this business website as soon as possible! If you are the business owner, list yourself as either, President/CEO (whatever your title is) and link the company website to your Linkedin.com page. Links are important, so are video and project links. Feel free to include RELEVANT content about your website, products, and services that will attract people to your page.
• After your profile is created, begin to search for people that you KNOW and have an established rapport with. Once you have connected with business constituents, you can see a list of suggestions for whom you may want to connect with. You may also receive connection invites to your inbox!
• Twitter: First create a Twitter.com profile for your business. You can be the person that signs in to post updates on twitter or you may assign someone on your staff to update. This should be done daily, or several times a week depending on what type of business you run. *You may also want to create your own Twitter.com profile for your individual updates as an entrepreneur and you can include your business twitter handle in many of your posts (by using a hash tag).
•   Facebook: This is where you can engage in conversation with your audience with unlimited characters and information (different from Twitter – which limits you to how much information you can post with each tweet). Create a Facebook.com business page. Include links to your website, to your Linkedin.com page, and to your Twitter Feed. You may want to list questions, conduct surveys, ask about products that are relevant to your business.

Social Media Connects Business Professionals:

•    Once you have a Linkedin profile, a Twitter feed, and a Facebook page (in addition to your website or blog), you will begin to notice the connection count growing! Your contact list will increase tremendously. At this point, you can feel confident that if you have an event approaching, it will be a good idea to send an invite to your new connections. Your credibility increases with the greater number of meaningful connections! The more visible your business and profile is on the Internet, the more your reputation with grow.

Here is an example of excellent Business Professional Connection:

• I have been blogging about Digital Media, and best practices in the new media realm. This is a supplement to my website: www.trendsettercommunicationsny.com

•  I was recently connected on Linkedin.com to Melissa Cordial Schenkel, Public Relations Manager for Vera Bradley. Melissa noticed I am the author of a Digital Media/PR blog and invited me to a Vera Bradley event - which showcased the fabulous 2013 Baby Spring Clothing Collection (among other items)! 
•  At this media event, I connected with a myriad of other media professionals including representatives from Broadband Television! 

*For more information on steps to start your social media, I noticed a great article in called, "Social Media Tips for Building a Social Media Strategy," published on Business News Daily on September 26, 2012. There is excellent advice in this piece. Check it out!