Why LinkedIn is the Most Lucrative Social Network

                             

Maybe the ugly and sort of nerdy sibling of the bunch - LinkedIn gets a bad rap - or at least used to because of its professional demeanor. But what it lacks in “oohs and ahhs” it more than makes up for in functionality, personality and overall benefit to the end user. 

Here’s why: 

  1. LinkedIn can get you a job
  2. LinkedIn replaces the trade show - connect with important individuals instantly
  3. LinkedIn allows you to gain expertise and share knowledge
  4. And above all, LinkedIn is not ad-focused, it is results focused

The premium services that the network offers are for individuals to spend in order to connect with their premium professional network. For salespeople, HR professionals and job seekers alike, this is a price worth paying. 

Facebook offers you targeted advertising that links to your page. So, what’s so new about that? Nothing. Google has done it for years and some would argue that it is more effective to increasing the bottom line.

Facebook is just another ad network dishing out demographic based data. 

LinkedIn is a powerful social network of professionals building meaningful connections with one another in a serious manner - and one with more results. 

Just a note, LinkedIn has not paid me to write this whatsoever. I have found genuine connections through the network that resulted in real business and that at the end of the day is a statistic that you can take to the bank.

Should Small Businesses Stop Using Facebook for Marketing?

Leaving Facebook is a concept many have thought of. In countries with more sophisticated usage, it has become a common phenomenon. Nothing shocking. Many people to date have not opened or have started and then shut their accounts.

But why? Is there a compelling reason to stop? 

Well, here are a few that I can think of for individuals.

  1. Privacy from organizations knowing your likes/dislikes/tastes in everything ranging from movies to who your friends are to where you live.
  2. Peace of mind. No unwanted interruptions or distractions.
  3. No ads.
  4. More time for meditation.

But should small businesses shun Facebook?

Well, there are plenty of good reasons for that one also, but in my opinion, Facebook still has a stronghold on a majority of all people using the Internet worldwide. It has become a cultural stay. It is not going to move. It will evolve but never dissolve. 

Their present system allows marketers to highly focus their branding/targeting while social sharing. But then again, Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft all offer digital advertisements that are linked to “thoughts” and “instant” gratification. As in, on Google, you can advertise to people who are talking about things right at the moment or are in need of something that very second. Whereas on Facebook, you’re going by what an individual has posted as a “Like” or an “interest” where gradation is never really captured. 

So, really the usage of Facebook, especially for ad spending is not really advisable for most small businesses. But, it can be of great value to large organizations with thousands of dollars in marketing spend to try out the social feature. 

For now, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, and Pinterest are the tools of choice for most small businesses trying to establish a customer base solely relying on social media or free advertising as they think of it.

If you still have more queries, hit our inbox.

Alt text: “Google Plus: A hero who, despite being noble and well-intentioned, is generally thought to be worthless and kinda dumb. Powers: Same as The Facebook, only watered down. Nemesis: The Facebook. Inset: The Facebook saying “I’m not your nemesis, man. Leave me alone.”“ Source: CollegeHumor via Mashable.
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Alt text: “Google Plus: A hero who, despite being noble and well-intentioned, is generally thought to be worthless and kinda dumb. Powers: Same as The Facebook, only watered down. Nemesis: The Facebook. Inset: The Facebook saying “I’m not your nemesis, man. Leave me alone.”“

Source: CollegeHumor via Mashable.

(via tooyoungforthelivingdead)

Inside f8 - Facebook introduces ‘New Actions’

From ‘Unfriend’ to ‘Recommend’ and ‘Attending’ - people are going to be able to do a lot of new things as Facebook unveils even more features during its f8 conference.

The network that defined social media and created a backbone for it is now set to seep in even further into our lives.

The meaning of all this? Well, there are ways marketers and small businesses will be able to see what people ‘Want’ or notice, for example, the media that users have been accessing and enjoyed. This allows for the creation of a smoother and even more focused content development on part of developers.

And the audience will just have a constant knack of ignoring traditional advertising. What most businesspeople and marketers fail to see is that this level of customization makes each customer more demanding, snotty towards generalized attempts at grabbing their attention and gives faithful loyalty to brands that cater to their every whim and fancy.

So better get your customer service in order, it’s going to be a Facebook world.

Why do you want to be “Liked” on Facebook?

This is for brands only. Why people want to be Liked on Facebook is usually a different set of reasons.

You’ll see brands advertising Facebook pages and their Facebook presence with links and messages of all sorts. I’ve even come across giant posters that say “Find us on Facebook” with a logo but no link listed.

People are going bananas about Facebook Liking.

But is liking really enough?

The “Like” button ensures popularity and a viral structure. By “Liking” a brand, I’m officially alerting all my friends and acquaintances that I’m now enjoying something that your brand or service is providing.

Fair enough. But now what’s the next step? Where is the magic value?

The truth is, unless my friends are also interested in the product or service to begin with, they’re not going to recommend it. The same is true in real life.

I love to watch movies and I love finding great vegan restaurants to eat at. My friends that also love films will be intrigued if they tend to agree with my taste when I “Like” a movie’s page on Facebook. But the same friends will most likely ignore or maybe even “Hide” the post of me liking a vegan restaurant.

Community is where the Heart lies

When it comes to online social media marketing, you have to build a community around like-minded people. All those that like your Page will have to gather around your brand as if it’s New Year’s Eve camp-out and yours is the only fire burning.

The exercise is strictly for branding purposes. Unless you’re selling consumer goods, this is not going to increase your sales whatsoever. It will increase your notoriety, your loyalty base and overall impression in the marketplace.

But when you start spending that money on Facebook Ads, keep in mind where it is going and what you want in return.

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