 |
|
 |
|
|
11-11-2007
|
 |
Senior Member
Company name: Codehead, LLP
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 8,935
|
|
Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
Just wondering which, if any, social networking sites you belong to and if you've used them to promote your practice at all?
If so, have you found it a useful tool for bringing forth potential clients and/or new projects?
Please elaborate on where you keep profiles, how much time you spend on each, and what value you see it bringing to your practice.
(This thread was inspired by a question asked at another thread)
A few examples of social networking sites (if you use other please feel free to mention them and list the reasons why you find them useful in building your practice):
MySpace
LinkedIn
Facebook
Friendster
Digg
Sk*rt
StumbleUpon
etc...etc...
|
|
11-11-2007
|
|
Contributing Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 144
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I actually think they are an extremely beneficial part of your marketing plan. I'm actually hosting a teleseminar on social networking on November 28. For those interested, you can sign up at www.va-teleseminars.com.
|
|
11-12-2007
|
 |
Active Member
Company name: Julia Neal
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Dublin [IE] [Former UK]
Posts: 671
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
what about bebo.com?
personally, i'm not really into social networking sites... i do use facebook ALL the time though (personal usage only).... although i do have a myspace and bebo which i seldom use... so whether to have a company group on facebook would suffice... i don't know...
what would you think?
|
|
11-12-2007
|
|
Contributing Member
Company name: The Virtual Office Guru
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 176
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I think having one on Facebook might be beneficial. I know before it was just about personal socializing, but a lot of businesses are using Facebook to advertise, especially to the younger generation who's starting businesses and might need some extra help around the edges.
I will start a purely business profile when I come up with my name and the specifics of my job. And even if you don't get an abundance of leads, its still good advertising.
|
|
11-12-2007
|
 |
Resident Member
Company name: Virtual Business Services
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 1,119
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I use the following sites, and although I haven't been swarmed with clients from them, I think I have benefited from each in form or another.
MySpace (have received several inquiries and 1 new Meetup member)
Linked In (have received several inquiries)
Active Rain (received one RFP)
Merchant Circle
MeetUp.com - Entrepreneurs meetup (1 client)
Cre8buzz.com - Just joined (invite only, if anyone wants to join, pm your email and I'll send invite)
Facebook.com - Just joined
I am also a member of several industry-specific forums, which I have received inquiries from and a client. I check each site daily and post on the various forums, but I rarely blog because I hate writing. I think I have received good responses from each seeing as how I've only been up and running since July. Whether I receive responses or not they all provide quality backlinks which have helped with SEO.
__________________
Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services
|
|
11-12-2007
|
 |
Senior Member
Company name: The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 2,889
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
Linked In, Merchant Circle, Meetup, Ask! Boulder. No clients from any of these yet but I'm hoping 
Rebecka - I pm'd you for an invite to Cre8buzz.
|
|
11-12-2007
|
|
Contributing Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 144
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
Here are the sites I'm on:
Zaadz
MySpace
Facebook
LinkedIn
Ryze
Squidoo
Stumble Upon
Plaxo Pulse
Mmm... There are others... LOL I just can't think of them at the moment.
|
|
11-13-2007
|
 |
Active Member
Company name: Virtual Business Partners
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Woodridge, IL
Posts: 858
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
Could someone explain what Squidoo is and what a "lens" is? I've been on the site a while back and have looked around, but I didnt really grasp what it was about. Thanks!
|
|
11-13-2007
|
|
Senior Member
Company name: Codehead, LLP
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 8,935
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I've always been perplexed by Squidoo as well  it looks like a glorified search engine to me but I figured I must be missing something.
So I finally went to Wikipedia to see what they had to say.
This is what I found (admittedly, perhaps someone who actually uses the site could give you a better, more personalized notion of how it works):
"lenses --single pages that highlights one person's point of view, recommendations, or expertise. Lenses can be about anything, such as ideas, people or places, hobbies and sports, pets or products, philosophy, and politics. Lenses aren't primarily intended to hold content; more emphasis is placed on recommending and then pointing to content on the web. Annotation and organization and personalization delivers context and meaning.
Users who create lenses are called lensmasters. A lensmaster uses the tools available online to provide links, feeds, abstracts, and lists to users who are trying to make sense of a topic. For example, a single lens could point to Flickr photos, Google maps, blogs, eBay auctions, YouTube videos, and other links. Lensmasters are encouraged to promote personal agendas, expertise, causes, products, and opinions."
|
|
11-13-2007
|
|
Senior Member
Company name: The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 2,889
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I created a lens pointing to my website but have NO IDEA if it did anything 
|
|
11-15-2007
|
 |
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 279
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I use MySpace, but I don't consider my networking there to be solely to obtain clients. Actually, I don't consider that my reason for ANY networking I do. Networking is about building relationships. Making friends on social networking sites may not bring you clients directly, but you can bet that a friend has a friend has friend who knows someone who needs a VA. Building relationships in the name of your business is never a bad thing. Offer someone something for free - a free spreadsheet if they need help with one, a lesson on how to set up Wordpress, etc. They'll tell someone how awesome you are and you can bet your booty you'll find clients that way - I have!!
Set up a profile on any networking site that gets a lot of traffic. It can help your search engine results, and put your name in front of people.
__________________
Brianna Young, VA and Graphic Artist
www.virtualsolutionsadmin.com
"It's not the piano that makes beautiful music. It's the person sitting AT the piano!"
|
|
11-18-2007
|
|
Active Member
Company name: Julia Neal
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Dublin [IE] [Former UK]
Posts: 671
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I have just started to use KylieKonnect.com - I have a wee section for my business; plus a section for my information.
http://ourtribe.mobi/default.aspx?ui...id=7765&m=Site - that's my KylieKonnect site.
|
|
11-18-2007
|
|
Active Member
Company name: Virtual Business Partners
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Woodridge, IL
Posts: 858
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I'm glad I am not the only one, even after reading the posts, that is still confused! It almost sounds like a blog, but not really...hmmm...
|
|
01-04-2008
|
 |
Contributing Member
Company name: Remote Admin Services
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 168
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
So many still to join. But I finally tapped into LinkedIn today.
Also a member of MerchantCircle and currently working on my first seasonal newsletter. Will check out some other sites within the next couple of weeks.
|
|
01-06-2008
|
|
Active Member
Company name: Julia Neal
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Dublin [IE] [Former UK]
Posts: 671
|
|
Re: Social networking sites - what works, which do you use?
I have finally got my butt into gear and now have LinkedIn, Facebook and Myspace
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:02 AM.
|
|
Stuck in startup? Stop dreaming. Start DOING! 
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
