Sunday, August 23, 2009

Social Media: the Future of Business Network Building

By Damian Papworth

A basic tenet of business sense dictates that to the extent that the world changes, so too should the way in which people carry out their business activities. In this sense, the internet has presented an enormous opportunity for change (indeed, it has demanded it in many cases), and with the growth of the web countless new ways to proceed from a business perspective have emerged.

Of special interest to the business community is the advent of Web 2.0, particularly the various utilities of social media outlets at present. As is plain to see, these social media are among the most far-reaching and efficient ways to create a web or relationships and a considerable reputation for your business.

The spread of social media on the web has proceeded at the rate of a virus, though this is one infection that is actually good to get! The principal reason underpinning this extraordinary proliferation is that it is impossible to monopolize the ways and the venues through which people interact-if a new site pops up allowing people to communicate amongst themselves with a host of different features, then it is practically inevitable for it to acquire some users (clearly not all such sites command the same followings though).

This desire to "socialize" on the web is simply impossible to contain and permeates all social strata, making it a literal dreamland for creating and developing business relationships. Overlooking the importance of social media today is, therefore, something to be done at one's own risk, and he who does so is his own worst enemy from a business point of view.

Despite the impressions that some people have of social media sites as being mostly for infantile and superficial purposes, nothing could be further from the truth: no matter how silly some people may be with their social media usage, the potential uses go much beyond such trifling matters. Ultimately, what social media allow a business owner to do is establish a recognizable image, convey a professional attitude, and increase the likelihood of new client patronage.

The biggest reason to use social media sites-beyond the fact that countless potential customers are lurking in such sites-is that they are absolutely free. That's right: an invaluable business-growing tool without a price tag! Such things actually do exist, and only on the internet.

The permanent upkeep and improvement of one's social media website accounts allows any entrepreneur to ensure the central facet of their marketing drive (and consequently a good marketing tool too). Online or not, efficiency like that just can't be had elsewhere.

At the moment, the giants of the social media scene include but are not limited to: Technorati, Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, YouTube and LinkedIn. Insofar as a business owner uses these media to get their message and brand out there on the market, the more their market impact will be-though a bit of prudence is in order for balancing depth and scope in this regard.

In the end, the potential brand recognition and massive diffusion a business owner can achieve through such social media sites guarantees that such technology will continue to constitute an increasingly important aspect of plain business sense. - 16890

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