Category: Facebook

Facebook vs LinkedIn: Which Social Media Platform is Right for You?

5/27/2015

by Richard Rowell; Co-owner of Brand Shamans & Write W.A.V.E. Media

Two of the most popular social media platforms today are Facebook and LinkedIn. You're likely already on the former, and perhaps on the latter. Both are great ways to connect with your business partners and current clients. You can even connect with industry experts and potential clients. But, there are pros and cons to marketing on one or both platforms. Let's focus on what sort of audience you receive on each platform. This way, you can decide how and when to best use Facebook and LinkedIn.

Benefits of Facebook

Facebook Fan Pages are likable by pretty much everyone. This means many times that a good number of your potential likes will not be potential clients. It's easy to have a bunch of family and friends like your company page for the sake that it's your company. Honestly, there's nothing inherently wrong with that. You never know who your family and friends could connect you to. Still, a great percentage of your likes will either be out of your service area or never actually need your particular expertise. Others may simply "like" your page through a Facebook suggestion.

One benefit of Facebook is that anyone who has something to say can post it on your Fan Page, if you allow it. Facebook is without a doubt the most public forum outside of a blog and your own website. It's easy to promote Facebook fan pages, especially when you choose a custom URL for your business page immediately (i.e. facebook.com/yourbusinessname). If you're looking for a place to start in social media, then Facebook is a great place to start. Keep in mind, many of your likes are rarely going to interact. When you do get interaction, take full advantage of it. Let them know you appreciate their feedback and commentary, at the least.

Pros & Cons of LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional network that is most useful for B2B (business-to-business) professionals. Yet, it is definitely good to have a LinkedIn profile for yourself no matter what business you're in. If you have a business page on LinkedIn, it's a good idea to make sure that you can claim it. Also, if you're looking to develop business connections on LinkedIn, you can create a LinkedIn group. Inviting your clients, colleagues, and business partners to this group is a good idea. It's a great way to share relevant industry info and keep in touch.

LinkedIn business pages are good for sharing relevant news items and company updates. They also allow you to ask your followers questions. Yet, not everyone has access to them. They're more restrictive than Facebook fan pages. So unless you know you have a target audience on LinkedIn, it's best to perhaps focus on Facebook. It's a great idea for you and your colleagues to interact with what clients you do have on there, however. You can get ideas from them about what sort of content they're looking for. Facebook is better for public interaction. LinkedIn is much more private, focusing on specific niches.

However, Linkedin articles are open to the public. They are just like blog posts,except that you get a built-in audience with Linkedin. Just be sure to not be overly promotional, although you can link back to your website or related post. They actually don't mind you re-posting your own content, either, as long as it's a complete post. So, in this way, Linkedin is pretty good. Although you can do something similar with Facebook notes, Linkedin articles are typically going to get a ton more attention.

If you're into B2B, you'll definitely want to focus on LinkedIn while poking around on Facebook. If you're more B2C (business-to-consumer) oriented, you'll probably want to focus on Facebook. Either way, see what type of presence you can create on LinkedIn, as well. It can't hurt.

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Should Employees Network During Business Hours?

12/2/2014

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Are Social Networks a Good or Bad Idea While on the Job?

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

You log onto facebook and notice a few of your co-workers are posting personal things - on company time. Should this be allowed? In a technical world, the answer today may be different than it would have been several years ago. Some people may equate facebook posting to playing around, but others may consider it vital to their career. Which do I recommend? Should employees network during business hours?

Absolutely! The way that people communicate is changing drastically. This is largely due to the development of newer technology. People no longer have to be sitting next to each other to communicate. Sending a message or posting a status update or photo on facebook is pretty much the same thing as chatting with your co-workers. Most businesses have no problem with people talking while working. Some even encourage it. For many people, it's second nature to type a quick status to facebook or twitter via their phone or computer.

Multitasking is a desirable trait. Networking via social sites while on the job shows the higher-ups that you can do more than one thing at a time. This is beneficial because most positions require a great deal of multitasking and switching back and forth from varied assignments. For instance, a manager might interact with customers, direct employees, answer emails and phone calls, solve issues, and much more

Networking is vital to the business world. Being able to use social networks is a requirement for most jobs. This is because many people now turn to the internet for interactions, even those that are business related. Companies often use social platforms to collect customer feedback, provide support, and share ideas with others in the industry. Managing both business and personal social interactions in between other daily tasks shows the boss you are both responsible and business savvy.

Adding a personal touch helps clients and customers identify with the company. So, maybe that photo your co-worker just posted of her baby wasn't exactly work-related. But it does bring out her personal side. Being a good business person is not about a perfect image void of any feeling. Clients and customers want to deal with businesses, particularly employees, that they can relate to. If everything is always straight business and no fun, no one sees the human side and that can hurt business. You don't necessarily need to discuss drunken escapades. But posting a silly status or two during company time can help people feel comfortable with employees, which is good for business.

Happy employees are more productive. When people don't feel pressured, they are more likely to do their jobs efficiently. People who sit at a desk all day may not have much time for social interaction that is not work-related. Social networks can provide a few minutes here and there where the employees can get some quick social time in and still do their job efficiently. It only takes a few moments to read or post an update. But the happiness or stress relief from doing so may last all day.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Web Writing Tips: Marketing No-Nos

6/14/2013

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

"Please subscribe to my work. I promise I will read yours too." Those are words many web writers hear on a daily basis. But should those words be put to rest? In mentoring fellow writers, I often get asked about promotion. Many times people ask me what to do. Now I'm going to tell you what NOT to do. Here are 5 of the many marketing no-nos for web writers.

Don't blast the same links on twitter all day long.
Not only is this annoying, it is considered spamming and can get you banned from twitter. It makes me cringe when I see fellow writers sharing the exact same article link every hour all day long. If you want to reshare an article, wait for another day or share it elsewhere, not continuously in the same space. The same goes for when you're sharing on other social networks or anywhere else you promote your links. Oversharing could be a TOS violation. When you violate one thing, readers and clients may question your ethics.

Don't use social networks purely for link posting.
If you join a social site, then be social. Posting only links is not considered being social. Even if you click on links others post, you still aren't being social. Have conversations. Participate in the community. If you aren't going to do anything but post links, then you are probably promoting to dead air space because that's considered spamming.

Don't demand reciprocation.
If you follow another writer's work, don't expect them to follow yours. Sure, they might want to return the favor or they might like your work. But just because you read their work does not mean they are required to read yours. Think about it from their perspective. How do you feel when people expect you to do something? It's not a fair way to treat people. Instead of asking for or demanding reciprocation, leave people to make their own decisions about your writing.

Don't expect family and friends to read everything you write.
This is something many web writers will deal with. It's definitely a good feeling when family members and friends want to read your work. But don't make them feel as if they have to. Not everyone is going to understand your passion for writing. That doesn't mean they don;t support you. They may just have other interests. It's one thing to drop a quick link on facebook where everyone you know can see it. It's quite another to repeatedly email the same links to family members and friends.

Don't use shady promotional tactics.
If you want readers and clients to take you seriously, avoid certain marketing tactics. Selling traffic traffic clicks, using pyramid schemes, and other such promotional tactics may sound tempting at first. But these type of marketing campaigns are often frowned upon and are even against the TOS of many content sites and publications. Keep the trust of your clients and readers by only using trusted promotional techniques. Your clients will trust your work ethics when your traffic is verifiable and your readers will trust what you say if you are ethical in all your actions.

*I originally published this content on Yahoo! Contributor Network

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Facebook vs LinkedIn: Which Social Media Platform is Right for You?

Should Employees Network During Business Hours?

Are Social Networks a Good or Bad Idea While on the Job?

Web Writing Tips: Marketing No-Nos

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