Social networking sites a tool for businesses

Social networking sites, once the domain of teens and college students, are transforming the way entrepreneurs market their business.

David Nour, managing partner of The Nour Group Inc. consulting firm in Atlanta, has researched more than 400 of these online communities and written books about the topic.

He discussed using social networking as a business strategy recently in Richmond.

Nour said social networking sites -- for example Facebook, Jigsaw and LinkedIn -- serve as business-to-business outposts that can help create a much stronger awareness of your company and drive potential clients and customers to your Web site.

"Ideally, you're setting up your Web site as the mother ship" where they will come, he said. It should be a hub of great ideas, engaging content and interactive dialog.

The idea is to give people a taste of who you are, what you do, and what you can do for them.

Consider the following five social networking sites that can help you market your company. The goal is not to direct sell -- that turns people off -- but to put yourself in front of the right industry contacts:

LinkedIn. More than 30million professionals have profiles, listing information about themselves and their business pursuits. They exchange information, ideas and opportunities, and stay informed about their industry and other people. "It's by far the most prevalent business social-networking site out there," Nour said. http://www.linkedin.com

Facebook. It's a close second, Nour said, "because of its popularity and sheer volume" of people who visit there -- more than 120 million active users. The idea is to use it professionally, "not to put up a picture of you and your friends out drinking." http://www.facebook.com

Jigsaw. This is a marketplace of more than 11 million business contacts. You buy points that enable you to research your target contacts, or earn points by uploading contacts. "What I like about Jigsaw is it provides you with a good solid list of prospective clients," Nour said. http://www.jigsaw.com

Slideshare. "It's the YouTube of presentations," Nour said. Also, "it's a great place for you as a marketer to search for competitive information." http://www.slideshare.net

Twitter. This is a fast-moving "What-are-you-doing?" site where you answer that question in 146 or fewer characters. It's also a micro-blogging tool through its "Twitter Feed" feature, which automatically feeds your blog to your Twitter page, he said. You talk about whatever you're doing at the moment, which tells the viewer something about you. The site continually updates. http://www.twitter.com

The power of Twitter is its reach, Nour said. "With its sheer volume, it can exponentially increase your marketing reach."

In Short Pump, Susie Galvez, entrepreneur, beauty consultant, author and radio show co-host, uses social networking sites to showcase her skills and talents.

On Twitter one day, she posted: "Radio interview re my 'Step Into The Spotlight!' book 3 p.m. today. WLEE 990 Radio. Lovely Susie Galvez & Bodacious Mary Foley. Join us!"

She has a profile on LinkedIn -- a site that "increases your level of credibility," she said -- because people say nice things about her work and recommend her. Her pages include biographical information and groups she is linked with.

Through social networking, Galvez has attracted consulting offers, interviews, tips for her radio show and has been quoted in major publications. She has built a following of people who are interested in what she does.

To see her profile at http://www.linkedin.com, type Susie Galvez in the search box.

On Facebook once, Galvez posted an image promoting her radio show, "and within one half hour I got seven people [responding]. It's really a fast way to get your message across."

Marketing takes a lot more than a business card and a brochure these days, she said.