Aplus.net Blog

Say goodbye to print advertising and phone book listings - today’s consumers are more web-friendly than ever. You’ve got a website, so what’s next? Do you sit back and wait for the phone to ring or emails to hit your inbox? Now that you’re exposed to the worldwide marketplace how do potential customers find you? No matter what your product or service, it’s guaranteed the majority of your customers are surfing the web for information, which eventually leads to purchases.

You’ve read about developing your website’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) but the next step after that is forming your social media presence. Savvy entrepreneurs are building an extended social network, thereby creating a well-rounded successful web campaign. This type of marketing is often referred to as Social Media Optimization (SMO), which increases your online presence by educating, informing and sharing your information with potential clients.

People can now “poke” or “tweet” you to request information through an extended virtual presence via such interactive sites as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and several others offering the same sort of free exposure. What each of these provides is an opportunity to expand upon your current website by linking to your own business profiles built within these social networks. One site worth noting for its direct focus on small business owners and entrepreneurs is PartnerUp.com. All features and functions are aimed at providing the most complete and efficient small business networking experience.

The Social Media Advantage – “virtual networking without the phone or boardroom”

• All networks are free to join
• User-friendly to build and maintain
• Ability to upload pictures, logos, videos, and text as often as you like
• Each profile provides an additional search opportunity for your business
• Create your own groups focusing on specific aspects of your business
• Follow other groups of interest to you. This allows you the opportunity to reach potential clients, see what competitors are up to, or form possible new partnerships.

Each of these networks allows you to place a link on your original site that will direct visitors to your individual social networks, and show the world that you are current with the latest web technologies. Check out FutureShop.com where they not only have their social networks listed, they also have a customer forum and blog which creates an interactive relationship between the business and consumer (B2C Marketing). Other examples of organizations, groups and businesses that are creating a social buzz are: NashvilleSounds.com, TravelandLeisure.com, and TheMarsBar.com. Even Aplus.net has a Twitter profile, Facebook page, and LinkedIn profile.

Explore all these options with the added features that Aplus.net offers to enhance your market viability. Are you taking advantage of social media? Share your success stories in the comments or even just list your profiles and we’ll give your business a plug.