So, LinkedIn, Facebook or MySpace for business?

After the last post on LinkedIn for business, I thought it would be worth exploring further the two biggest social networking sites, Facebook and MySpace alongside LinkedIn.

What you need to do first is to establish what your goals of social networking are - business or pleasure. If you are trying to utilise web 2.0 into an internet marketing strategy then LinkedIn is really the only way forward, as it is less frivolous and more focused on the business world. It will enable you to further your business connections, finding new clients, identifying new employee targets and enabling you to liaise with other like minded people.

If you have a business that sells products or services to the public, and you are looking to 'reach out' to a wider market then MySpace or Facebook are definitely the ones to look at using. Did you know that there are currently more searches done every day on MySpace than there is done on Google!! But there does need to be a different approach to these sites - it has be a fun, vibrant and youthful approach to actually engage with the majority of the user base. Get your image and your message right, and MySpace could be a fantastic shop window for your business.

Facebook sits in between MySpace and LinkedIn with regards to social networking platforms. It is a little more 'serious' than MySpace but not as much as LinkedIn, and therefore you can combine the personal and the business contact networking all in one place. It can be described as networking with the 'human touch', allowing much interaction in an unlimited number of ways!!

So what is the magic answer - which one is the best?  It is really down to you - you could of course do all three (and many people do), and if you have the time to devote then that would be great. I would say that if you are in a B2B world, then stick with LinkedIn, but if your business is B2C, then combine LinkedIn with Facebook and MySpace. My only caviat being that you understand the demographic you are trying to reach, and the different needs that they will therefore demand.

Comments

[Claire]

Hi there - just thought I'd add to the conversation here by highlighting the use of Facebook(FB) Groups as a great network and relationship builder. That's when FB gets really interesting. Never mind about throwing sheep and poking eachother - get yourself set up with a group and invite your mailing list to join you there.

Actually, regarding the array of add-on applications - be aware - every single app you add to your FB profile is another organisation who you are releasing your contact details to.
My advice would be to be selective about 'apps' and instead, get busy in groups including starting your own.

Warmest

Claire

PS. What a great use of a blog!

[Andy Headworth]

Claire,

Thanks for your FB insight, that is good advice. You are right about the apps - there seems to be many companies that are trying to get your info this way!

Andy

[Jeff Paul Internet Business]

well i must say Facebook sits in between MySpace and LinkedIn with regards to social networking platforms. It is a little more 'serious' than MySpace but not as much as LinkedIn. althought the three of them have millions of users.