The Best Business Social Networking Sites

21310676322_networkingpc.jpgThe most cost effective way for a business to develop and promote, a strategy of best practices of a social network optimization will be to focus upon the best business social networking sites.

According to a survey done in (Dec 09) by the University of Maryland small business school, the following are the survey results from small business participants;  of those surveyed some 75% were focusing upon their own web pages, some 39% were also blogging online content articles about their area of expertise.

Additional survey results showed that 69% of those business owners surveyed were focusing their efforts on building a network utilizing Face book and LinkedIn.  Some 54% of business owners were spending time monitoring their online business reputations.  Only 16% of those surveyed were focusing on tweeting on the Twitter.com network.

 So base upon the results of that survey it is obvious that the top three small business social networks are Face book, Linked In, and of course Twitter.

 The following is a brief history of Face book, Linked In, and Twitter.

Face Book was founded in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. It currently has over 500 million members world wide. It is free to join. There are some features in Face book that will cost you money. Review the terms and conditions of Face book.

Linked In was founded in 2003 and opened for business in May 2003.  Linked In currently has over 190 Million members.  It is also free to join.  Like Face book, Linked In also has features that require paid dues.  Again read the terms and conditions of Linked In.

 Twitter was founded in July of 2006. It’s world wide membership is over 190 million users.  See the terms and conditions of joining Twitter.  It limits its messages to under 140 characters per message.

Other social network sites to join are the following list;

 1) Your local area Chamber of Commerce  2) BNI networks 3) Home base business network

4)  Meet the boss  5) Meetup.com 6)The Free Lance Face 7) Partner Up 8) Perfect business

9) Your success Network 10) Sales Spider

 As part of your overall marketing strategy for your business you want to incorporate a small Business social network strategy to drive traffic and increase your sales as well as profits.

 Your goal for your social networking strategy is to define what you want your potential customers/readers to do.  Is your goal for social networking to build and drive sales, is it to retain current customers, or is it to build your community relationship as a trust source of accurate knowledge.

 Remember that the key to social network optimization is to follow the three golden rules;

A) Great article content  B) Great Linking strategy  C) A great SEO strategy.

Those golden rules will bring you increased online traffic to your blog as well as web site. Increased online traffic will mean increased sales and revenue.

I Know What Color You Are

f_21311083214_business-people.jpgThere are 4 color personality types. Red, Blue, Green and Yellow.

In a nutshell knowing what the different color personalities people have means you’ll understand people better then they understand themselves.

At this point this tells you nothing. No worries it didn’t mean anything to me when I first heard about personality colors. But man I wish I knew about this years ago, it would have saved me a ton of aggravation.

Everybody has a color type. And with that color type we act in a certain way. Certain things are important to us. We like to be talked to in a certain way. We like and dislike certain things.

Take me for example. Lets say you were calling me as a potential prospect.

What if you knew how I liked to be talked to? Knew what was important to me. Knew what I didn’t like. Knew what I liked. Knew if I was over sensitive. Knew if I needed support. Knew if I like to have fun.

Knew if I would be teachable. Knew if I was money motivated. Knew if I would be a leader. Knew if I was creative. Knew if I needed all the facts and figures…. I could go on and on.

What if you knew all this information and soooooooo much more about me after only talking to me (anyone) for only a few minutes and then gained more and more insight to me the longer you talked to me?

Do you think this would impact your business and your personal life in a positive way?

If I have to answer that for you…honestly click away and go play a video game you’re just wasting your time. (Sorry about that I had some guy tell me he saw no value in this. Gee no wonder he’s not achieving all the success he could be.)

But for everyone else who sees the power of this. Would you not agree you’d have an unfair advantage on everyone else?

I can give you a brief overview of the four different personality colors. There is much more to learn but this will give you a good idea of the power of knowing color personalities. (They’re in no particular order)

First there is Yellow. Yellow’s make up 35% of the population and are open and indirect with their feelings. They are the best at using both sides of their brains. They are relationship and family orientated, logical, analytical and teamwork is very important to them. Their voice is soft and gentle and speak in relaxed tones.

Yellows have jobs like teachers, social workers usually any nurturing job. They like giving back to others. They don’t like pushy people, aggressiveness, sudden change or animal cruelty.

Some of their weaknesses are. They are over sensitive, take things personally and will buy other peoples excuses.

Talk to a yellow slowly and relaxed and let them know they are appreciated.

Next is Blue (that’s me). Blues make up 15% of the population. Blues are open and direct with their feelings. Very right brained, talk fast, very creative, must have fun doing things. Strong on family and relationships, spontaneous and enthusiastic.

Blues have jobs like sales (of any kind), singer songwriter anything that is creative.

They don’t like not having fun they don’t like facts and figures or being sold.

Their weaknesses are being unorganized, scattered and poor savers.

When you talk to a blue focus on fun, talk about excitement. Never try to sell a blue.

Next is Greens. Greens make up 35% of the population. They are indirect and self-contained with their feelings. Right brained, very logical, and analytical. Precise and need to have all the facts and figures. They are savers. Organized, task orientated and accurate. Let’s get the kids to college. And they’re the best negotiators.

Some of their jobs include, engineers, accountants, CPA, professor. Anything to do with logic and reasoning.

They don’t like pushy people. Not having all the facts and figures. Not being on time, aggressiveness. Get depressed easily and are hard to please.

Some of their weaknesses are, they over analyze everything (to death). Hard to please and pessimistic about everything.

When speaking to a green, give them the facts and figures. You cannot overload a green with information.

And finally the Reds. Reds make up 15% of the population. Reds are direct and self-contained with their feelings. Reds are right brained. Their slogan is “It’s my way or the highway” Forceful, stern and to the point. No chitchat, money is power, take action. Task orientated, Impatient, un-teachable, show me the money.

Their jobs consist of being CEO’s, Attorneys, military leaders, and president of the bank.

Reds do not like losing control, indecision, small talk or crying. They don’t like talking about time freedom, family or vacations.

Some of their weaknesses are having a big ego, domineering and un-teachable.

When you talk to a red you need to let them think you need them. They like being sold, close them, focus on money, and stroke their ego. Talk about your leaders income.

Now everything I just outlined about the different color personalities is not a judgment it’s who people are.

Just imagine if you had this information the next time you talked to a prospect? How do you think your next call would go?

Learn this skill so the next time you’re talking to someone and they say something in a certain tone or way or ask you a question. You’ll know exactly why they’re acting the way they are and why they are asking the questions they do.

Instead of taking things personally or getting frustrated, you’ll say to yourself “Hey you’re suppose to act like that or say that because you’re a green” (pick a color)

Master this one skill and your business life and personal life will skyrocket. Guaranteed!!!

Until Next Time.

To your success,
Duffy Rogan