I’m sure you’ve heard of all the popular social networking sites, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. I know it is hard to believe there are additional tools out there your company can use to reinforce your brand presence and connect with both your customers and your target market online! Like you, I forget. And the best part? You can integrate these tools into your existing social networking pages and/or company blog.
Technorati
Are you blogging? Well, you should be! Your blog is your brand. Blogging allows you to share your company message with the world; your blog gives personality to your company by reinforcing a real, relevant and timely connection to your target market. You can use Technorati as a blog search engine to find blog posts from writers in your industry and/or on topics relevant to your business. Commenting on other blog posts with links back to your blog elevates both the popularity of your blog and your overall web presence. Use Technorati to experience the interconnectivity of the internet – and build your business and your brand in the process!
StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon is a browser toolbar that allows you to explore and share links tailored to your specific interests. As a business owner, you can use StumbleUpon to discover pertinent topics others in your field are talking about. Think of it as built-in market research. As you rate pages (thumbs up or thumbs down), your StumbleUpon account becomes more and more tailored to your interests. Not to mention, incorporating a StumbleUpon button into your blog allows others to recommend and rate your posts and share your links with others, thus maintaining your web presence – and consistent web visibility is an excellent way to elevate your brand identity.
Biznik
Biznik: Business Networking That Doesn’t Suck. (Doesn’t that just say it all?) Biznik is a community of entrepreneurs and small business owners helping each other through idea sharing and collaboration. Biznik helps you find local, face-to-face networking events and allows you to read articles from passionate experts in (and out of) your field – allowing you to grow your business base and find support when you feel isolated. Networking is crucial to the success of your business and the prevalence of your unique brand – it’s up to you to get yourself out there!
Using social networking sites expands the reach of your brand via interactivity with your current and potential customer base. Try using these additional tools to reinforce your brand identity online and expand the overall visibility of your business – it’s worth it!
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Right on with this post, Nora. Question though about Biznik. Do you use it a lot? How has it helped you exactly? I ask because I use LinkedIn for the same purposes (I’m on LinkedIn a lot) and was wondering how it’s different and what benefits you’ve received from Biznik. Thanks!
Michelle,
I have not used it (yet) for my business by way of promotion. I have used it as a source for industry knowledge–it is a wealth of info. Please see Matt Lawrence’s comment on his thoughts of the benefits.
Thank you Nora for including us in this great list. You really nailed it!
At every step, Biznik was created for the micro business owner. No where else is there the focus on networking for the micro business.
To help answer Michelle’s question:
The SEO benefits from membership are amazing – especially at the ProVIP level – it’s a no brainer if you want to get found on Google.
Every component you can think of to help you run your business from reading (or publishing and article), tweeting a discussion you started in a forum, attending (or hosting) and event, sending (or receiving) a referral, sharing compliments, and joining a Group to establish an affinity on Biznik.
Thank you so much, Matt for commenting. Biznik has been on my radar for years now as a wonderful source of industry knowledge. I hope to use it more for publishing articles and networking with like minded business professionals.
Nora, thanks for calling out these resources. I’d like to add my voice to the chorus of praise for Biznik. I joined two years ago, and I’ve received (and given!) invaluable support, connection and exposure through the fabulous platform they’ve created. I find that the combination of online and in-person networking really expands my circle (and the ability to scope out who’s coming to an event… that’s a bonus for this introvert!). It’s also a fabulous place to test out new ideas through discussions, articles and events. And as Matt mentioned, the SEO rocks.
Now on to explore Technorati and StumbleUpon 🙂
Nora,
On the coat tails of Matt Lawrence’s comment I want to spotlight Biznik as a Social Network that is on my tops list.
http://biznik.com/articles/are-you-a-social-media-butterfly
When I co-wrote this article with fellow Biznik, Pete DiSantis, who is an Efficiency Expert we had a lot of fun brainstorming on the quadrants of engagement “specifically” within the Biznik World. And when one is consistent and congruent and authentic (in activity of any and every kind, as Matt lists) as they engage in Social Networks the benefits simply get amplified.
My choice has been to host a weekly group at the same time and place, and add other events as well, that are standalone. I love writing articles, always planning to do more, and love commenting on those that others write.
The Biznik Model is technically rich and also warm and fuzzy, if one makes themselves available and shows up in person and on line…and that is a powerful pairing of activities. The way I see it, what I do in Biznik and also with ease on Facebook (but not so much on Linked In) I strive to do on all the chosen Social Networks I am part of and active in.
As for Technorati and StumbleUpon, both are great resources too and Social Butterfly me has to integrate using them more…I admit it. Here too must I be consisent and congruent and engaged.
Gentle ongoing reminders of the basics we must consistently be part of is ALWAYS welcome.
Your post is most appreciated by this champion of blogging and all things social media of the authentic kind. And I will be sharing your article with my Writer’s Group members and the folks who attend my forthcoming Self-Publishing and Self-Promotion Salon…for those in business for themselves MUST embrace promoting themselves in meaningful ways and in meaningful channels!
Cheers!
Deborah,
I really enjoyed the article, thanks for sharing. You so totally called me out! I am (unfortunately) a Wallflower who would like to eventually make it on to a Selective. I plan to actually upload a photo on my Biznik page and maybe post an article or two. I am really amazed at the wonderful comments pouring from those of you who are active Biznik members. Thank you. It shows me and my readership how truly wonderful a community Biznik is and how great social networking can be when done right.
Cheers!
I have used Biznik extensively over the past 2 years. Not only do I search for and read great relevant articles and participate in discussions, I attend and host events. The event component is what makes Biznik really valuable for me. Because I live in the Seattle area, we have a vibrant Biznik community producing a wide variety of interesting events most days of the week.
Biznik has helped me form new relationships, learn new skills, and above all, it has put me in touch with my target audience of tiny business owners. Through hosting free events I have gained experience offering my services to my target audience, and been able to test my workshop offerings at the same time. How cool is that?
Now that we can list events beyond Biznik, its value is even greater. I hope this supports the growth of Biznik in other communities too.
As someone once reluctant to dive headlong into FaceBook, LinkedIn or Twitter, my experience with Biznik showed me how valuable social networking can be. I’ve attended workshops on social media, and now I am multi-lingual in social media!
Thank you so much, Barbara for sharing your Biznik story. And it is very cool that you are able to gain experience, offer your services and test your workshop offerings at the same time! I say “Wohoo!”
Through Beth, Deborah, and Barbara we can see right to the heart of what is important: connections.
Sharing information and meeting one another are powerful modes of connecting. I am fortunate that Biznik is an intelligent and classy community to connect with – if it didn’t, my role as community manager would be pretty dull…