Top 5 Lessons Learned about Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter, and Business
With all of the current hype and news on Web 2.0, Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter, and the bailout, I take this time to reflect on this past month – January 2009. Let’s all just take a deep breath, count to 3, and begin to realize how much information overload we really have; or the lack of proper filtering. I, justinrfrench break it all down for you here. I give you the full Entrepreneurial, Business Minded, Tech Guru, Social Media / Social Networking addict, twitterholic synopsis with-out leaving your seat!
If there is one blog site you’re going to read about the growing trends in social networking for business, internet marketing for business, social media for business, or any of the other Web 2.0 solutions for business then I HIGHLY suggest you keep reading this blog.
I would hope after reading this, you would be kind enough to pay it forward, re-tweet this blog, subscribe to this blog, and help spread the word about this revolution occurring because we have only touched the tip of the iceberg on what is to come from my team and I in the not to distant future. If you think Google, Apple, and Microsoft were big, wait till twitter, justinrfrench, and his followers get on the map! You wont want to miss this 21st century bailout we are giving businesses on a silver platter.
For all my fellow twitterholics, followers, alliances, and partners I have formed over the years, I dedicate my mission and personal journey to you. This year I will fully dedicate myself to being the driving force for spreading the word to all Southern California businesses to help educate, instruct, and consult their firms on how to best utilize a social media work flow system tailored around their company.
Here are my Top 5 Lessons Learned (in no particular order) of what you or your business can gain from my summary of the month on the above topics:
1. Lesson 1 – Barack Obama has proven to be more of a leader than I thought. After even talking about setting a cap on CEO pay- he became my hero. MOST CEOs (not all) are over paid, under delivering to shareholders, and quite frankly do not know how to lead in todays 21st century and need a full makeover in upper management. Small businesses will be what gets us through these tough times as Obama states, so start finding how you can fit into this paradigm puzzle.
2. Lesson 2 – Sign up and start using twitter right now! The best business social networking tool Ive seen in the last 5 years! If you have not signed up on twitter, heard of twitter, or been active on twitter, then you are already behind. If you are a true business person, then you already know the importance of first mover advantage so I suggest you get on board. Just Google twitter and get going. If you need twitter training, instruction, or consulting on how to use twitter for business, I have teams of consultants that will come to your office and train, tutor, and educate you on the importance of twitter. After you sign up, make sure you follow me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/justinrfrench
3. Lesson 3 – Is all this social media, social networking hype really for my business? I thought MySpace and Facebook were for teens and young adults. YES! If your business does not form some type of internet marketing strategy today then you will not be in business tomorrow. I guarantee I can think of one or two social media sites or social networking sites for business that will be beneficial in some way to growing your business.
4. Lesson 4 – What is Social Networking San Diego, Why does my business need to know about this site, and how will it benefit my business? “Social Networking San Diego supports and educates businesses on the value and growing trend in social networking, social media, social marketing, and internet marketing for business. This trend in social networking and social media for business has been packaged together for local companies to use as a proven internet marketing system and online advertising strategy to focus on lead generation and driving traffic to company websites in turn generating new business.- justinrfrench
5. Lesson 5 – What Social Media / Social Networking sites does twitterholic justinrfrench suggest to lay the proper foundation for my business to start gaining a better presence online?
a. Twitter
b. Linked-in
c. Friend feed
d. Facebook
e. Word Press
I look forward to your comments, recommendations, or insight on this post – dont be shy. yours truly –
Fellow twitterholic, Justin French
Tags: Advertising, Advertising Strategy, Business, California, Internet Marketing, Internet Marketing Strategy, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Online Advertising, Pay It Forward, San Diego, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter
Same firstname no relation (im irish and bloody proud of it :P)
Just thought I would take a second to address your points.
1. Total agree. We all know that SME´s are the backbone of western economy and Obama`s campaign was an excellent examplae of using social technologies to move (or sell) an idea. SME´s need to get on-board with social networking or risk being left behind.
2. Twitter is not a child’s toy. Get on it, get networking and you will reap the rewards.
3. Its all about networking. Various sites like facebook etc can be broken into segments and the networks therein developed and nurtured in completely different ways. Why would business not want every network it is involved in to know about its latest and greatest offer or service.
4. The education alone is of extreme importance to any business. Without knowledge of how these systems work then you WILL waste money. Knowledge is power they say.
5. Good recommendations and good free advice. Get cracking San Diego!
justin,
this is very helpful. I am just jumping into the social media scene. Facebook is great, Linkedin, and twitter are the other sites I have joined. I haven’t yet started to blog but I am ready to jump into that scene as well. My family business is Lovely Living home care http://www.lovelylivinghomecare.com we have had it for about 1 year in half and it is going well but I think by utilizing these sites it can really increase. I am the Business Development Manager at Pomona Valley Hospital for the Physical therapy and rehab dept. and have started using linkedin to gain a greater share of the market as well. The biggest hurdle is the fact that the hospital is running way behind the technology wave. Keep it coming please…..
I just started using Twitter and LinkedIn. I think both are useful but I found more connections and potential business through LinkedIn…but that’s just me. Good article, I found useful information from it.
Thanks,
Frank
I am in total agreement with you about the necessary nature of the sites for business. Next step how to get business from them.
All the best
Bill
Very helpful info! Being a new entrepreneur, (of 9 months), I don’t have an advertising budget so anything I can do myself to promote my services really helps.
Cheers,
Cassandra
I agree with all of this information. Every business should use every resource they can to get exposure, and until now, everyone has been trying to figure out how to use social networking sites for business. Another great site that will give you first mover advantage and is designed for businesses to network AND a place for consumers to look for businesses is OddBodd.com. It has an open referral and networking system that is designed for consumers to find your business like a business directory but also allow you to make and share business connections without the hassle of having to be invited. You just have to have a business listed on OddBodd.com. It also has a suite of tools for small businesses and every business has a video introduction. (you do have a video for your business don’t you?)
The power of utilizing social media is pretty amazing- I especially enjoyed watching how President Obama uses it from new .gov sites to sharing information through twitter. The social side of the internet is great because if you share great, quality content, it can spread virally for free like wildfire- which will come back to you in the form of traffic. And that is pretty powerful.
Nice article. I agree with most points and will follow you as I have been trying to do more with Twitter and the other sites as I promote my online business.
One point of disagreement. Once the government starts telling us how much private companies can make how long do you think it will take to filter down to small business? Obama has now borrowed trillions for a frivolous spending bill that our grandchildren’s children will be paying for when we are long dead. Just remember someday the socialist attitude may dictate that you make too much money and then I think your own stance will be much different. Keep the government out of your life they screw up everything.
Then you are saying you agree with the million $ bonus bank executives have received when they continue to unsuccessful?
I must be getting too old, I only receive bonus for the profit I make for myself or my company not the loss they encounter.
I do not like to see the government telling us how to pay private companies but when they come with hand out wanting me to pay for their mismanagement – someone needs to monitor this since apparently their shareholders have not.
Social media and networking is very important to many of our businesses. It is something that will become even more important in our futures.
Communications among business people are what will assist to bring this country back, not just the executives that get their bonuses on the backs of the working person trying to make ends meet and promote our economy.
Justin,
Yes – you have listed a couple of the top social bookmarking sites. If you really want to go hard, going a lot of them can help.
But, how exactly do you find out what sites are the most popular and which sites produce the most traffic.
Here is a list that Seth Godin has produced showing a 952 Web 2.0 sites and there traffic rank!
Amazing !
You can read a bit about it at my blog.
http://gerrywalter.com/web-20-traffic/seth-godins-952-web-20-websites-feeding-frenzy-free-traffic/
Thanks for your post!
Gerry Walter.
Justin,
we have had 8 sign-ups at different varying amounts on our internet marketing strategy. it is very complex and requires a lot of hand holding, training, coaching, etc. on our part for the clients. So far so good- i will keep you updated. Thanks for your insight on social networking and social media for business. We are both ahead of the times!
Aaron, you are correct for starting now in the social media & social networking for business arena. this is so new- but those businesses that do nothing for their online presence/ strategy will not be in business in the near future. Let us know if we can assist with anything- thanks
justinrfrench twitterholic
twitter is a MUCH better social networking tool than linked in and i can prove it to you. let me know! Thanks for your comments
twitterholic justinrfrench
Bill, this is where the science/ psychology and BUSINESS skills come in from my team of internet marketing strategists. We are already demonstrating results for our business clients and will soon post video testimonials. All the best-
twitterholic justinrfrench
congrats fellow entrepreneur! you are on the right track! you will be highly successful is you keep doing what your doing, be patient, and in another yr. you will have more traffic and clients 🙂 cheers
Justin
Ben, yes! great input! Obama did win because of his social media/ social networking strategy. its the future for business! good luck!
Justinrfrench
jack- i agree 100% government=bureaucracy=corruption = no good for average Americans
Justin, I agree that it’s amazing what Obama accomplished through social-networking. It will forever transform the way campaigns are run. I also like the way he’s staying connected to his supporters and to average American citizens through his weekly radio address being posted on youtube. What I think is hilarious is how the right-wing Repugniacs are now trying to discredit his victory by saying that the media elected him. How hiliarious is that? And, to elevate the hilarity to new and shocking levels, they’re blaming Sarah Palin’s demise on the media too! How about just giving credit where credit is due? Barack Obama ran a superior campaign and connected with average Americans, whereas McCain/Palin had no vision, no strategy, and no rapport with anyone other than right-wing extremists who refuse to give up their outdated ideas.
Great list Justin, keep developing it – this is just the start;-)
@Aaron – start blogging and share your thoughts, expertise, problems. Your profile is at the end just a shell – put life into it 😉 You will soon see how vast the space really is when you live in it.
@Frank – You may find connections all over the world – but that is not the real thing about social media. It’s like looking into a Ferrari brochure versus driving the thing. See my note to Aaron.
@Cassandra – You don’t need a penny for advertising – right on.
@Jack – watch it Obama is reading this too *lol* – But seriously, let’s accept that the gov is dramatically opening up this is much more value than the risk you mention.
@Gerry sorry but you are still in 2005 – Traffic ruled back then – not today. Traffic was and obviously with you still is – the wrong way to measure success. It’s an empty suite. I do NOTHING for SEO but enter my name in Google. After Axel Sch you will see me – all I do is be active in the social web.
Oh by the way – if you like to get some deeper insight into SoMe for business, check this online event: http://xeeurl.com/A0495
Have a nice read 🙂
Blame your CEO – not the economy (most read post on SMT right now) http://xeeurl.com/A0518
Death of a sales man – Version 2009: http://xeeurl.com/A0232
http://twitter.com/AxelS
Dear Justin,
You have certainly clarified many issues for me. I know “the way we used to do things” is no longer working. This new change in the way business is conducted is quite refreshing.
I like the of people finding me and what I have to offer, instead of chasing down dead leads, and chasing my friends & family.
I will certainly be following you on Twitter. Thanks for the good advice. I feel as if I am getting a new business degree. Only better, I get the benefit of experience!
Sincerely,
Lisa Ayers
Agree with what you are saying. Twitter and social media is a great way for us to inform others about our site. Hoping that the new administration can help small businesses survive this tough economic times.
Great piece on the importance of integrating social networking into your business mix. I especially found the commentary and recommendations about Twitter very interesting and useful. I’m a fan of LinkedIn which promises to have the highest composition of business professionals of any social network out there. Will be curious to see the impact of Twitter vis a vis LinkedIn.
I have to take issue with your comments about Obama’s business acumen. He is already threatening tax increases (starting with gas taxes) and has committed to a balanced budget in the midst of the worst economy in years. You don’t have to be a Wharton B-school grad to understand that he’s going to have to raise taxes somewhere to pay for all that budget balancing. I think he’s tinkering with social engineering and I am concerned. Thanks for the insight on Twitter.
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Thanks for the blog that you have. I found a new one the other day. They look open , but very similar to linkedin.com with more of a social business directory look and feel. Nice clean interface though. It’s at SocialTerrain.com
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Nice lessons Justin,
Since your post has been posted few years ago you may consider to update it placing more social media and provide your experience.
Thanks for your write up.
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