11 replies to this topic

[Randy]

There is no absolute requirement that you join a single one. I don't belong to a single social networking site for SEO or marketing purposes. But then again I don't much believe the massive amounts of hype out there about social marketing being some sort of panacea to web marketing. It has a place or a seat at the table if your site lends itself well to such things, however even then it's not a given that one must get involved in social marketing.

I've found it a better course to put my efforts into simply making my sites the best out there. What ends up happening then is users who are happy with what I've done will spread the word for me through their own social networks, which is considerably easier than me having to figure out which networks to join in order to reach potential customers where they live.

[1dmf]

NONE!

[Jill]

If you're just looking for strategies that are a quick fix, and don't take any time, you probably won't get very far with your business.

[chrishirst]

A link instead of cross forum answering

[purplesoda]

no restrictions, whatsoever. but keep your profile somehow related to the site your promoting!

[Orpheus Descending]

I don't belong to a single social networking site for SEO or marketing purposes.

But Randy if you have one at all, you may not have started it for the purpose of SEO or marketing, but that doesn't mean it's not being used by potential clients to find out about you.

I often wonder if non-marketers, who use social networking sites, realise that employers do use those sites for background searches whether they are legal or ethical or not. The owner of a company I worked for did such a search for a potential designer, and didn't hire her because he didn't like her cutesy facebook page. I was livid, and let him know it, but that didn't stop anything. I've discussed this with other employers only to find, they all do this.

I've gotten into some very heated debates with a couple of lawyer friends on this topic and am amazed at their responses. As long as the material is published, it is considered fair game(thank god potential employers of Henry Miller never had access to a publishing databases); however, if I go to Synagogue on Saturday, that is public as well, but my employer isn't allowed to track that or to ask anyone, who may have seen me there, if I'm Jewish.

Employers aren't allowed to ask you if you're married or gay, have kids - naturally, adopted or otherwise, how many kids you have and whether they are all from the same partner, whether you're catholic or hindi, whether you're a communist or in the green party, whether you're Korean or Japanese, etc., but they can go to facebook and if you have an account, they can look at that.

I just find it odd. This is the medium that I work in, but it used to be that our private lives were not for consumption in all aspects of our professional lives, and some of the people that like to delve into the personal lives of people they work with professionally gives me the heebee jeebees - and now they have a fantastic tool.

I have to run to the store now and stock up on bottled water and duct tape.

[Randy]

But Randy if you have one at all, you may not have started it for the purpose of SEO or marketing, but that doesn't mean it's not being used by potential clients to find out about you.

Cept that I don't SEO for others anymore, hence have no clients who want to find out about me. Just this morning in fact I turned down previous client's offer trying to coax me out of retirement to work on their site again. Their offers get higher every year it seems.

I know others use social networking sites for SEO. I just don't see the need. There are so many better places for me to get links so I don't bother pursuing that one myself. That's not to say my sites don't have links from various SN sites. They do. But those were all placed by happy customers, without my knowledge or input.

[oneofthe3lions]

The best thing really is to just try one at a time for yourself. I also havent really followed the hype about all these networking places like twitter as it seems traffic is of very poor conversion rates etc but that is simply for my own reasons and my own niche/s. There are many out there that find these places invaluable to thier marketing.

There are productive avenues to market in any niche and I think finding those places is the best solution, finding out where your potential clients actually look when they have thier professional business head on.

If they are all on twitter or facebook then go hit those places, if they use ecademy or stumbledupon then go market those places. Its all about finding the audience.

Also whatever avenue you choose then you realise that it takes a lot of time to do well. Being selective is important.

[prominade]

There is no limit. Join as many as you can.

[TYPELiFE]

If your account name represents your brand, register it on any new popular social networks you can find. You prevent anyone defaming you by posting content that might be a detriment to your brand under your name, and you gain backlinks from the networks that support profiles. You can also develop brand recognition by uploading a picture of your logo on these profiles as well.

I would say stick to posting regular content and updates to the main networks you feel suit your needs, while posting major updates about your brand/company/site/whatever to all of them.

[BryanBahillo]

You are only limited by your own desire. So if you want to join all Social Networking Sites, then do so.