Are you an internet business owner?
A hobby blogger?
or perhaps running an offline business?
There’s always a time when you search for new customers, clients or readers to add to your existing list.
So the question here is, where are they hanging out?
In a case of an online business, the answer to this may seem obvious – Forums, social networks, blogs and so on.
But are we effectively utilizing these avenues?
Let’s take social media for an example, an area that is becoming a dominant force within new media – with the likes of
Facebook, Friendfeed, identi.ca, LinkedIn, Mr Wong, OverBlog, Stumbleupon, Squidoo -
For bloggers, this is great – an opportunity to interact and share interests with like minded individuals – couldn’t be better.
Chances are, such relationship formed outside your business results into potential customers, blog readers, contributors and so on.
But, is our conversion rate effective?
Simply creating a facebook page or a forum account isn’t enough – you have to work it.
Speak their language
With each of these platforms, it is important to treat each one independently.
For an example, I wouldn’t build an effective relationship on Facebook if all I did was to post my latest blog feeds there – hoping someone would read them.
Each platform has it’s own culture and communication style.
If social media is something we are incorporating as part of our business then it’s worth doing it correctly.
Social Tools for your Blog
The beauty of these social engagements is the ability to bring them back to your blog.
There are some clever social blog tools which you may wish to integrate, to help streamline the communication process.
Facebook Connect
Facebook Fan page
Twitter
Flickr
Stumble
Have you discovered your readers hang out spot?
What social tools are working for you?
My name is John Lufadeju, thanks for visiting.
This blog focuses primarily on maximising your blog with effective tools and techniques.
It's also a platform to discover and share blogging experiences.
Good points John. I must admit I'm guilty of simply not adding any value to Facebook, and I must put that right. Thanks for the reminder.
You're right about working these outposts and building relationships John. I try to guard against getting spread too thin and not being able to cover them all.
You not alone Mike, we are all guilty of it, especially when you have so many outposts to keep up with.
Absolutely, that's the danger have so many
But, you're hard-working man JImi – I know you can cover them all
Good points John. I must admit I'm guilty of simply not adding any value to Facebook, and I must put that right. Thanks for the reminder.
You're right about working these outposts and building relationships John. I try to guard against getting spread too thin and not being able to cover them all.
Like Mike CJ said I don't use Facebook to anything related to my blog. I think it's better to focus on a few social tools, just those you feel more comfortable. I like twitter and some good forums of blogging. I'd like to use more Stumble Upon, I've read that it's a very powerful tool to generate high spikes of traffic.
Any of you use stumble Upon?
By the way, good post John.
Regards
You not alone Mike, we are all guilty of it, especially when you have so many outposts to keep up with.
Absolutely, that's the danger have so many
But, you're hard-working man JImi – I know you can cover them all
Hi John,
I use Twitter to drive traffic to my WordPress.com and Blogger blogs. It is a very effective tool for that purpose. In fact I'm pretty sure we meet through Twitter so it working for both of us! I also belong to a forum and I'm looking for another one to join. I keep FaceBook to stay in touch with friends and family but nothing related to my blogs.
I signed up for StumbleUpon because, just like you, I heard that it was very effective, but I haven't quite got the hang of how to capitilize on it yet. I'll keep trying though.
Thanks for the post it was a good one.
See you in Twitterville.
Like Mike CJ said I don't use Facebook to anything related to my blog. I think it's better to focus on a few social tools, just those you feel more comfortable. I like twitter and some good forums of blogging. I'd like to use more Stumble Upon, I've read that it's a very powerful tool to generate high spikes of traffic.
Any of you use stumble Upon?
By the way, good post John.
Regards
Hi John,
I use Twitter to drive traffic to my WordPress.com and Blogger blogs. It is a very effective tool for that purpose. In fact I'm pretty sure we meet through Twitter so it working for both of us! I also belong to a forum and I'm looking for another one to join. I keep FaceBook to stay in touch with friends and family but nothing related to my blogs.
I signed up for StumbleUpon because, just like you, I heard that it was very effective, but I haven't quite got the hang of how to capitilize on it yet. I'll keep trying though.
Thanks for the post it was a good one.
See you in Twitterville.
Faacebook is one of the lesser effective socisl media channels of Professional Bloggers. Most people on Facebook don't seem to just like seeing your latest posts. You have to work a lot harder and you'll have to choose your friends a lot more selectively, otherwise you're going to piss off many of your friends who aren't interested in seeing your links in their feed. Twitter is much more appropriate for bloggers, but still needs a lot of work.
Faacebook is one of the lesser effective socisl media channels of Professional Bloggers. Most people on Facebook don't seem to just like seeing your latest posts. You have to work a lot harder and you'll have to choose your friends a lot more selectively, otherwise you're going to piss off many of your friends who aren't interested in seeing your links in their feed. Twitter is much more appropriate for bloggers, but still needs a lot of work.
This is a very good post, in regards to Facebook I've had the page open the same day as I started the blog, but I only have 2 fans
. I'm not sure how to garner more support/fans without begging. LOL
I write great content but that still does not seem to work….???
This is a very good post, in regards to Facebook I've had the page open the same day as I started the blog, but I only have 2 fans
. I'm not sure how to garner more support/fans without begging. LOL
I write great content but that still does not seem to work….???
John your so right different social sites have their own language. Some are good for some things but not others. Like I dont try to use Facebook to advertise my blog. I had tried early on cause I didn't know what I was doing. But I found it wasn't helping much. I mean people on Facebook aren't looking really looking for how to blog. I use Digg and it seems to work. I have used stumbleUpon a bit and it seems to work also. Twittering also seems to work for the blog also. Facebook might be good for some types of blogs depending on what type of blog it is.
John your so right different social sites have their own language. Some are good for some things but not others. Like I dont try to use Facebook to advertise my blog. I had tried early on cause I didn't know what I was doing. But I found it wasn't helping much. I mean people on Facebook aren't looking really looking for how to blog. I use Digg and it seems to work. I have used stumbleUpon a bit and it seems to work also. Twittering also seems to work for the blog also. Facebook might be good for some types of blogs depending on what type of blog it is.
I too am also guilty of not putting more value to my facebook. Thanks for the remainder.
Regards and thanks for a great post.
I too am also guilty of not putting more value to my facebook. Thanks for the remainder.
Regards and thanks for a great post.
I've been there before too David, this post also a reminder for me too.
Thanks for your comment.
I've been there before too David, this post also a reminder for me too.
Thanks for your comment.
I've been there before too David, this post also a reminder for me too.
Thanks for your comment.
hi john,
how are you? i found you through jimi jones blog.
i have read a few posts on your blog and it's been inspiring. I'm trying to focus a bit more on social media tools because i haven't done so in the past. I 'm definitely subscribing to your blog and would be here more often.
take care
hi john,
how are you? i found you through jimi jones blog.
i have read a few posts on your blog and it's been inspiring. I'm trying to focus a bit more on social media tools because i haven't done so in the past. I 'm definitely subscribing to your blog and would be here more often.
take care
Hello Ayo,
Thanks for stopping by to check me out.
Social interaction is certainly the way forward in 2010.
Glad you found them useful – Thanks
Hello Ayo,
Thanks for stopping by to check me out.
Social interaction is certainly the way forward in 2010.
Glad you found them useful – Thanks