Many companies have shut down access to networking sites from their headquarters and offices. What about you? Do you think social networking for business is a waste of time, even harmful?
Why Social Networking For Business Is a Win
Top item on the list of many reasons is “Branding”. One key factor for customers to find you is through advertising and while conventional types are too expensive today, the social media has provided a small biz to reach various demographics for it to be known. Social network profiles have info tabs, bios you can fill out, and straightforward info people would like to know such as hours of operation and top products and/or services.
A business profile and a Facebook page for your business on the block, a LinkedIn profile displaying your skills whether you are an executive or a freelancer, easily leads a huge chunk of the world population to discover you.
Why Social Networking For Business Is a Fail
Many sceptics argue social networks when implemented in business will fail due to the fact that it is a black hole of a time sucker. It swallows the time you better spend for ‘actual’ business and is a huge productivity destroyer for your employees. Malicious programs and viruses that could seep into your systems, tactless comments and mistakes easily spirals into workplace hassle and brand negativity that could lose customers.
Do Not Take The Road To Failure
The skeptics’ arguments are somewhat valid, in fact, there are a number of businesses and individuals out there who failed in social networking, not because of the reasons above but because, first and foremost, they didn’t bother to understand what makes people in the social networks tick and why.
Yes, time is needed to keep your social accounts interesting; time is needed to take care of friends, fans and contacts and have a ‘talking’ relationship with them.
Most organizations jump into social networking, formulate a social media strategy, create the accounts and fill them with links. They think that’s about it and move on to block social networks in the workplace. These empty social accounts are nothing but dead pages that will give no benefit whatsoever to you, your customers and potential clients. When people are led to your empty shell of an account they will presume your business dead, and you will soon realize your efforts in social networking for business have failed.
Hugh McCabe has been conducting trainings and workshops for companies and PR agencies to perfectly align their internet marketing strategies with social media and social networking. Discover the latest and the best internet marketing techniques by heading over his blog http://hughmccabe.co.za. Also published at Social Networking: Sceptics Shout Fail, You Shall Shout Win.