Social Networking at a glance

Social networking media can be a helpful tool for companies to generate more business, marketing experts say.
The most common sites for business purposes are Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, experts say.

Twitter: A free, real-time messaging service that lets users send out messages, or "tweets," of up to 140 characters to "followers" who sign up to receive the tweets. Authors can choose to send tweets to only their friends via the Web site or they can let anyone read the messages.

Facebook: Users can post information and pictures of themselves and communicate with other users, known as "friends." Users send their friends brief messages, Web site links and other bits of information through the site.

LinkedIn: A business-oriented networking site where users can put their resume online for other users to see. Professionals can find other professionals by typing in key words on the Web site to find people in their network who have information that can help them with their business needs. There are more than 50 million professionals on the site.

Authenticity and Transparency Are Social Networking Cornerstones

The words "authenticity" and "transparency" may seem trite, but I believe they remain the cornerstones of this new media-marketing paradigm. Be real. Be open. Be honest. Admit mistakes when you make them.

Content Is Still King, but Conversation Is Queen (and Conversion Is the Prince)

Nothing beats well-written, informative, entertaining content in all its forms: blog posts, tweets, videos, podcasts, images, webinars, or whitepapers. Place yourself in a position of being a knowledgeable expert (assuming you are, of course). Community is the context.

Moreover, keep content and commerce separate. Never the twain shall meet is a good rule of thumb. Editorial and advertorial content should be distant kin, if related at all.