Sorry I haven’t written in a while: it was the kids’ Spring Break and so the work days were a lot shorter 
But, I didn’t stop networking! Social Networking websites, like LinkedIn and Facebook, allow me to network with other business owners and professionals even after the kids bed-time. But, is it just ’social’ or can LinkedIn and Facebook really benefit the small business owner? Well, I was on a quest to find out.
My first quest was LinkedIn: it’s considered “The Professional” social networking website, with over 21 million professionals in over 150 different countries, I can see why. So, my goal was to get 100 connections last week, and I’m almost there with 98 - and what I realized was the more connections you have, the more potential for getting business. It wasn’t until I hit that “80 connections” mark that I really saw the benefit. Plus, I used their “Ask Questions or Answer Questions” function to really help get my profile out there. If you’re looking to work with businesses that are small to corporate, then you definitely need a LinkedIn account.
Facebook: I was reluctant to try Facebook because of it’s reputation as the 2nd MySpace. I’m not targeting teeny-boppers, so I didn’t think having a profile on Facebook would help - until I had one. I was able to quickly grow my list by adding friends of other friends at the click of a button, developing a ‘business’ page, joining groups, and adding events. It was just a lot easier to interact with others, show my personality and really promote my business.
My conclusion: you need both. LinkedIn shows your professional side, while Facebook shows your personality - and both help you to promote and market your business.
If you want to get started on Facebook, or want to learn how to really optimize your profile, then you should register for the FREE teleclass on April 25th at 10am PST. It will show you step-by-step how to start your profile, your business page and grow your list - and business - quickly. Click HERE to register now
Tags: facebook, linkedin, profile, seo, small business, social networking