Social Media as the Front Page for your Business?

I had the pleasure of attending the first day of the 2nd Social Networking and eBusiness Conference (through Level Up). One of the more interesting points raised by several speakers was for companies and marketers to actually use social media as the front page of your business. After giving it some thought, it really does make sense to do just that. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t make a website of your own, but you shouldn’t just ignore the power of social media.

Here are some points I would like to emphasize in this article.

1. Go to where the users are. “Build it and they will come” doesn’t work all the time unless you have phenomenal content. Social networks like Facebook, Friendster, and Multiply are already community hot spots. It’s just like advertising with billboards – you don’t invest in billboards that are in far flung areas of the country with just a 1 lane road. You want it to hit the maximum amount of eyeballs.

2. Don’t just make a profile for the sake of having a one. Your profile on social networks is literally your first contact point with your online consumer. Give them good content to browse through. Give them the ability to talk, interact, and discuss aspects of your product with you. Otherwise it’s just the same boring microsite that they won’t really bother checking in the first place. Make sure that through the content you’re constantly uploading, they will have a reason to come back and eventually click your link to go to your actual website and learn more about your product.

Here’s another wild idea. Why not “sponsor” the social media platforms of your endorser? That gives a much more human face to your campaign and brand. For example, include in your contract with Kris Aquino that you’re buying the content of your social networks. Be subtle though with the product placement and don’t go overboard or people will get turned off. My main point in this wild idea is that people are definitely more interested with Kris Aquino and what she’s doing versus whatever your product is.

To those with endorsers reading this post, do it now before someone else does it, hahaha. First mover advantage.

I’ll try to drop by again on the 2nd day of the conference but I’m not sure if my schedule will permit me to do so. By the way, sometime Friday I’ll be posting another interview with a self-employed professional who has used the internet to really take his craft to the next level. Clue – he’s a musician.

Lastly, I’m working on an article that will hopefully help bloggers maximize the potential of social media to drive traffic to their sites. Should be up sometime Friday as well.

Thanks for reading! Now check out these related blog entries:

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