Social Networking Tools Part III

As a small business, you can use sites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn to increase the size and scope of your network, and to increase your web visibility. The more sites there are in cyberspace that include your name and link back to your web site or blog, the better it is for your company and your marketing plan. If you create a YouTube video, have some conversation with any commenters, and post links to the video on your blog or Facebook page. Use Twitter to post "tweets" that will entice readers to your blog. Two articles that explain ways to use these tools are "Boosting Your Sales with Social Networking," by Elaine Appleton Grant in the March 25, 2008 online version of U.S. News and World Report, and, "Are Social Networking Sites Useful for Small Business," by Karen E. Klein in Business Week, August 6, 2008.

You can also monitor sites like Twitter and Yelp to find out if people are talking about your company. If someone posts a complaint or negative comment, you can respond right away, as Comcast's customer service department made news doing earlier this year. The rewards for the investment of your time in networking tools include satisfied customers, and a reputation for good customer service.