Social networking online has become a popular trend for marketing careers and businesses. Social networking sites are evolving platforms that allow users to interact and connect. To effectively use social networking for business goals, one must determine specific goals like finding jobs, gaining brand exposure, or scouting potential employees. Then choose sites like LinkedIn, MySpace or Yahoo 360 and connect with potential customers, industry contacts, media, consultants and event organizers who can help achieve your goals. Maintaining an appealing profile and engaging with your network through new content is important to build relationships and see rewards over time.

1. Submitted by:
Tanu Jain

7. Social networking online is one of today’s hottest trends.
Many, however, wonder how social networking can help their
careers or businesses and exactly how to get started with this
online marketing technique.
Social networking sites have become so popular because of
following characteristics :-
Social sites are evolving in nature, they change from day to
day thanks to the contributions of it’s members – this is why
they are so successful. As the platform evolves constantly, so
should you approach to using this medium!

8. • Ways to interact are numerous. The first order of business is to
decide what your marketing goals are with respect to social
networking. While "finding new friends" is a sufficient personal
reason for social networking, business marketing goals need to
be more specific. Are you an individual looking for a job or
freelance work? Do you want to gain exposure for your product,
brand or company? Are you looking for potential employees or
contractors? Do you want to get prospects interested enough to
visit your Website or contact you? Your goals will dictate what you
put on your profile and social networking home page, as well as
who you look for to become part of your network.
• After you’ve decided on your purpose for online networking,
choose which social networking Website(s) you will participate in.

9. • You can find a comprehensive list of social networking sites here, I am familiar
with those listed below. They will give you an idea of the range of opportunities
you will find at social networking Websites:
• Yahoo! 360 (360.yahoo.com): Yahoo!'s social networking site is in beta as
of this writing. The unique feature here is your Yahoo! 360 space is cross-
promoted with other Yahoo! products, such as with your reviews on Yahoo! Local
and your Yahoo! Groups. Like many social networking sites, you can also host a
blog on the server.
• MySpace (myspace.com): This is the mother of social networking sites.
Originally dominated by teens, there are reports of the "graying of myspace" as
older people and businesses are also networking on the site. It may be worth
your while to spend some time there to see if your target customers hang out
there.
• LinkedIn (linkedin.com): LinkedIn is excellent for professional, career-
related online marketing because it focuses exclusively on business and
professional networking. You will find interfaces to connect with classmates or
colleagues (both past and present); find service providers or clients; post or find
a job; and ask or answer business-related questions.

10.  The people you want to associate with (i.e. make "friends" or be "connected"
to) will depend largely on your goals. There are several types of people you
will want to consider contacting. Each can help you in different ways, so
consider looking for more than one type of "target friend:"
• Customers and Consumers: People who will benefit from what you do,
consume or buy your products or services, and rave about you to their
friends.
• Others Within Your Industr y: People with whom you can network, share
resources and cross-promote with.
• Media and Publishers: People who work for, or can influence,
publications you would like to be mentioned in (e-zines, newspapers,
Websites, etc).
• Consultants: People who may want to hire or purchase products from you.
• Event, Company or Organization representatives: People who
operate businesses and associations that support your industry.

11. Social Media Marketing create opportunities to:
Adds a human element (you) to your business or product
Engage with customers directly but informally while hanging out online
It is fun and simple to do once you know how
Get traffic to your website
Create buzz around your website, product or service or brand
Create inbound links to your website for the search engine ranking benefit
Creates loyalty and trust

14. Working your Network
There are several things
can be done to become
more approachable:
- Your page is the first thing
people see when
researching you, so keep it
appealing.
-Add new content to your
page often, giving people a
reason to visit regularly.
Like all worthwhile business
relationships, online
networks must be
nurtured. Make the effort
to do so, and over time you
will reap the rewards.

19. Social media has become a platform that is easily
accessible to anyone with internet access, opening
doors for organizations to increase their brand
awareness and facilitate conversations with the
customer. Additionally, social media serves as a
relatively inexpensive platform for organizations to
implement marketing campaigns. Organizations can
receive direct feedback from their customers and
targeted markets.

20. Popularity :-Social media has been adopted by a critical
mass of the population which means it is important for
organizations to have a social media presence. Generally, some
official presence is better than none even if a specific strategy has
not been defined.
Advertising :-Social media is an enormous advertising
platform. Organizations are able to target individuals based upon
specific interests shared on social media. For example, if an
individual watches a YouTube video about jogging, a shoe
company can serve an ad or a coffee company can target ads to
individuals who post that they are tired on social media sites.

21. Customers :- One thing is Crystal clear that .
Customers are the King and the days of marketer & seller
are gone. Mass is moving to Social networking sites so
companies will also follow where there customers go .
Awareness :- Some organizations actively use social
media in their marketing plan to keep the brand fresh in
customers' and non-customers' minds. Linking with an
organization on a social media site allows the organization
to stay connected with individuals who may or may not be
customers instead of relying on them to initiate a contact
only when they are looking for additional information.
And many more :-----

22. Among the goals for which social media can be used
are:
Customer service, e.g. direct response to customer
complaints.
Broadcasting updates, announcements, news, e.g.
additional PR resource.
Promotions.
Behind the scenes look at the organization.
Advertising.