Facebook and Twitter Success?

[Gromit]

Howdy...

I'm curious if anyone out there is using Facebook, Twitter or any of the other social networking sites to market their business, and if so how. You hear so much hype about it, and I'm wondering if it's still just the early-adopter types using it or if it's filtered into real-world small business use...

I'm also interested in hearing if you're not marketing with social networking sites...and why.


Your thoughts?

[JEccles]

I just got the Tapconet site on Facebook and Twitter both. Don't know how Twitter is going to help, but it's worth a shot. I just copy over any update I make on Facebook to Twitter, so it's really not adding anymore work.

I'll let you all know how it goes.

[roban]

I use them both. Facebook seems to be more social while Twitter has more business and networking implications. Linkedin has them both beat for networking for business.

[JEccles]

I use them both. Facebook seems to be more social while Twitter has more business and networking implications. Linkedin has them both beat for networking for business.

I have to agree on Linkedin. My dilemma now is that I have the pages set up on both Facebook and Twitter but don't know where to go from here. How do I get people to follow the pages?

[joshklein]

I think you'll find that there are certain businesses that are conducive to Twitter/Facebook promotion and others that are not. I've done some work with major Pharmaceutical companies that were interested in social media because of the price tag (i.e. free), but didn't understand the fundamental question of, "why would anyone want to know about your business through a social network?"

In their case, these tools are all but useless (not to mention the legal difficulties).

Now, I also have a friend who started an adventure company about a year ago. She takes busy young professionals on weekend trips to camp, hike, etc. Her company has done tremendously well, with growth over just this past year to include multiple guides and tour groups, with demand still exceeding her ability to match it, predominantly through Facebook.

What's the difference?

A company that is built from the ground up to be a word-of-mouth company -- online or off -- is going to do well to use these tools. All Twitter/Facebook is, or any social network is, is a new tool for a very old job: friends sharing with friends.

In the old way of doing things, your biggest fan could only tell so many people (unless that fan happened to be a journalist). That is no longer the case.

So think of social networking tools as a tool where you can reach people who are really into your business, and give them the tools they need to share what you are doing.

If your gut is that people just don't care enough to feel proud recommending your company to their friends, then these tools aren't right for you. (And there is no shame in that.)

[JEccles]

One thing I am finding, on Facebook. A lot of the people who "favorite" the site are asking for me to do the same for them. I am treating them the same way I would a link request. If it is a company or organization that some how ties in with our site, I will do it. Otherwise, no.

[BasicECommerce]

My company is using Twitter for Customer Service and Branding. It is near impossible to track revenue from Social Media.

BEC

[SpotZero]

The thing about Facebook, Twitter and other social sites is the business/client engagement that can be achieve, giving a company a human voice and make them more personable. If your client is a fan of your Facebook page or a follower of your Twitter you can update them on everything that goes on with your company including special deals or new services.

Best,
-SpotZero

[Bill Engvall]

I think both are working out fine for me, i have been receiving leads and good queries from both facebook and twitter links. i feel you can also work on them, you need to keep updating about the new happenings on your website. Thanks

[adamjhuathan]

well...these are the hot selling sites these days for internet marketing....everyone is getting registered in social network sites and trying to promote their business there...and believe in it is working to some extent also.

[siotw]

You can use Twitter to listen in on your industry, competition and what customers are saying about you. Twitter's a more efficient mechanism in many ways for customer service and support, especially for small businesses

[jassdoit]

well.. if you set up a group in facebook, it is really hard people add as favor..but twitter you can search the different field of people and added them, once a while then added u back. Then the connection is build. so it is really depends how you use them both...

[ds1]

We recently launched Discountshuffle an advertising platform for online shops that are looking to offer discounts or rebates on their products. Part of our website is all about getting users (not online shops) to use it and we use both twitter and facebook to achieve this. I couldnt agree more that it solely depends on the business you have if or if not social media is for you. Either way, I believe there is value for any company to be active in some form or other of the social media spectrum.

[Trainer]

In my opinion social network marketing does not apply to all types of businesses especially those of us with a niche product/ services will not benefit much from social networking sites, so I think it depends on your product/ service.

X C

[Seifert Tech]

I use Twitter and Facebook. Going to register on Linkedin today too. Reading a book from the local library Twitter Means Business. It's Hilarious! Informative too. You can get a ton of knowledge from the library for a couple of cents in late fines. It takes so little time and effort to do these social sites you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/SeifertTech

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pa...8805878?ref=nf