Winning In Social Networking: Why Sceptics Advocate Fail And What You Can Do To Win

Many companies have shut down access to networking sites from their headquarters and offices. What about you? Do you think social networking for business is a waste of time, even harmful?

Why Social Networking For Business Is a Win

First on the list of reasons is “Branding”. A key factor for customers to find your business is advertising and since conventional TV, radio and print ads costs are expensive, small businesses resort to social media for their brands to be recognized by the masses. Social network profiles have info tabs, bios you can fill out, and straightforward info people would like to know such as hours of operation and top products and/or services.

A Facebook business page, a LinkedIn account for freelancers and executives to display career track and skills, can get more people to discover you these days.

Why Social Networking For Business Is a Fail

Many sceptics argue social networks when implemented in business will fail due to the fact that it is a black hole of a time sucker. It swallows the time you better spend for ‘actual’ business and is a huge productivity destroyer for your employees. Malicious programs and viruses that could seep into your systems, tactless comments and mistakes easily spirals into workplace hassle and brand negativity that could lose customers.

Do Not Take The Road To Failure

The skeptics’ arguments are somewhat valid, in fact, there are a number of businesses and individuals out there who failed in social networking, not because of the reasons above but because, first and foremost, they didn’t bother to understand what makes people in the social networks tick and why.

Indeed, it takes time to keep your profiles interesting, take care of the friends, fans and contacts connected to you and have an interaction with them.

Most organizations jump into social networking, formulate a social media strategy, create the accounts and fill them with links. After which they block social network sites in the office. These empty social accounts are nothing but dead pages that will give no benefit whatsoever to you, your customers and potential clients. They land into your dead pages only to see absolutely no sensible activity happening, think your business is dead and you will soon know you’ve failed in socail networking for business.

Hugh McCabe has been conducting trainings and workshops for companies and PR agencies to perfectly align their internet marketing strategies with social media and social networking. Discover the latest and the best internet marketing techniques by heading over his blog http://hughmccabe.co.za. Check here for free reprint license: Winning In Social Networking: Why Sceptics Advocate Fail And What You Can Do To Win.