Moe Tamani's Internet Marketing and SEO Blog, Articles and Search Engine Optimization Tips » Social networking

SEO and Social Networking: Creating Good Content

MoeTamani — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:25:14 +0000

SEO and Social Networking: Creating Good Content

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

If you aren’t using social networking sites in your SEO efforts, then you’re missing a great opportunity to drive traffic to your site and increase your profits. Social networking is different from other marketing strategies, however, and requires that you think differently than you would if you were simply looking for another way to advertise your product or service. The first step in using social networking for SEO purposes is to find out which sites are most appropriate for you to frequent, given your interests and your business. Then hang out and just watch the conversations for awhile. Become familiar with the culture of the sites, including what kind of content people publish, what’s popular, and how people interact with each other. Once you’ve watched for some time, start contributing to the conversation. Here are five ways to create good content for social networking purposes:

1.Write good stories. People on social networking sites tend to enjoy hearing personal stories that are relevant to the conversation; otherwise they wouldn’t be on social networking sites. Tie your stories in to your business so that your readers are drawn in without being turned off by the perception that you’re just there to sell them something.

2.Interview. An interview with an industry expert can really grab the attention of the folks you’re networking with. Not only does it build your credibility, but it causes others to see you as someone who is able to contribute quality information and knowledge. Even if you don’t know someone that you consider “important” in your industry, you can still find someone you know who has good information to share. And this will be greatly appreciated.

3.Information. Never underestimate the value of your own expertise, as long as you share that expertise in an appropriate way. Social networking site users aren’t very fond of participants who are only in it to toot their own horns, but if you can offer valuable advice and help in a humble way, then you will be considered valuable within your community. Not only it is appropriate to give advice, but you can also write helpful blog posts and free reports. You’ll go a long way toward establishing yourself as an authority in your field, and you’ll generate a great deal of traffic from people who want to know more about what you have to offer.

4.Controversy. If you have pretty thick skin, you can try posting content that will start a debate. The point isn’t to make people angry or to start a fight; it’s to start a healthy conversation that gets people talking. Anything that goes against a popular opinion, or even expert advice, is good for getting a conversation started. Just make sure that your own position is well-argued and plausible. Otherwise, you just look like someone who’s trying to start a fight. That will make you a pariah on social networking sites and defeat the purpose of your overall SEO campaign.

5.Write Well. This is true for all the previous points: Use attention-getting headlines on everything you write and then make sure your article lives up to the headline. People will stop paying attention to you if you use an eye-catching headline and then write an article that isn’t at all engaging or interesting. Images are also a great tool, as are references that give your articles credibility among your community.

Social networking is a great SEO tool if used responsibly and appropriately. Find a community that fits your interests. Hang out for awhile and get comfortable with the conversation. Then begin adding your own content that others will deem relevant and helpful. If you can add value to the conversation then you will go a long way toward driving traffic to your site and gaining loyal customers.

5 Reasons to Avoid Twitter, and Why You Shouldnt Join

MoeTamani — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:44:35 +0000

5 Reasons to Avoid Twitter, and Why You Shouldnt Join

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

If you’re not familiar with Twitter then you are probably not up to speed on social networking. But if you haven’t decided to create a Twitter account, you’re definitely not alone. Many internet marketers are wary of using Twitter for a number of reasons. Here are the top 5.

1. Useless Information. It’s true that many Twitter users update their Twitters with completely useless information. Do you really need to know that someone just finished their second cup of coffee or is leaving the office early for a pedicure? The good news is that if you find that you don’t particularly enjoy a person’s tweets, you don’t have to continue following them. But don’t eliminate this option altogether. One of the most important aspects of Web 2.0 is engaging people in all aspects of their lives, even the mundane stuff. Share yourself, welcome the opportunity to let others share themselves with you, and you will go a long way toward building a loyal customer base. People are much more willing to do business with you if they think you have a vested interest in their needs and thoughts.

2. It’s a Waste of My Time. This is probably the most valid reason of all. But the truth is that many marketers generate traffic and leads when potential customers find them through Twitter. When the content you share is relevant and high-quality, you can drive visitors to your website to learn more. Twitter is simply another tool for online marketing, so don’t write it off until you’ve given it a shot to see what it can do for you. Do some of your own research to discover the multitude of business uses for Twitter and you might just be convinced that it’s not a total waste of time after all.

3. It’s Time-Consuming. Like any online endeavor, you can blow a lot of valuable time following your streams and entering your own tweets. But you can salvage some of your time by using RSS feeds to follow relevant conversations. Visit search.twitter.com and click on the link to “Feed for this query.” You can then follow the conversations that are most important and relevant to you and your business. If that’s not optimal for you, simply discipline yourself to check only once or twice per day.

4. Twitter Doesn’t Cater to My Customers. Before you decide that your customers aren’t on Twitter, look for yourself. Go to Search.Twitter.com. Search for the name of your company, the name of your product, and keywords relevant to your business. If you’re afraid that your market may be too niche-y for Twitter, remember that your job as a marketer is to find people where they are. If there are a few folks on Twitter within your niche, put yourself there as well.

5. It Could Lead to Bad Press. Whether you’re on Twitter or not, people are still talking about you, and you need to know about it. Even if there’s poor feedback on Twitter, you need the opportunity to let folks know that you’re aware and that you’re going to do something about whatever it is that has disappointed them. If you respond quickly to the concerns of your detractors, you will go a long way towards putting out potentially damaging fires. Thoughtful responses make a huge difference in customer attitudes. Remember that if a critical mass of bloggers pick up on negative press and write about it themselves, things can get out of hand very quickly. On the other hand, you can make a great name for yourself if you address customer concerns promptly and tactfully.

There you have it. No more excuses for avoiding Twitter. Even if you think it’s the most ridiculous tool ever invented, you still need to check it out for yourself. Give it some time and see what it can do for you. Explore different applications of this valuable tool and let it help you grow your business.

5 Keys to Success in Marketing with Social Media

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:49:06 +0000

5 Keys to Success in Marketing with Social Media

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

If you’ve been paying attention at all as a small business owner, then you know how important it is to make social networking sites an integral part of your online marketing strategy. The one question you may still have is how to measure the success of your online marketing campaign. Given the current economic situation, you’re probably concerned with making every marketing dollar count, so how can you make sure you social networking efforts are worth the effort? Here are five easy keys to guide you.

Listen to Your Audience. Given the number of social networking sites on the internet, it’s completely unreasonable to utilize all of them. Start by finding out which social networking sites are most highly populated by your target audience, and then listen to what your potential customers are saying.
Involve Yourself. Once you’ve found your target audience on a few key social networking sites, start engaging your target audience. The first step is to listen to what they are saying about your company. If you find that what you hear isn’t positive, find a way to help the customers that aren’t happy with the products or services that you provide. Do what you can to make things right. If you find that your target audience only has positive things to say, continue to engage them, listening to what they have to say. You’ll find that their positive attitudes about your business will only grow.
Give Back. Social networking sites are great places to post information that will lead to positive customer attitudes about your product or service. Start a business blog, tweet on Twitter, put photos on your Flickr site, and create Podcasts. These types of activities will drive potential customers to your site, and if your site is optimized to make leads out of visitors, your sales will increase!
Use Your Tools Wisely. Making your social networking strategy mesh with your business strategy is critical, but that can’t happen until you’ve become familiar with how each social networking site works and how it can best benefit your business. How does each site connect you with clients and potential customers? Which sites specialize in the kind of customer contact that is most beneficial to your business? How can you use a variety of different social networking sites together to find potential customers and engage them? Answer these questions and watch your social media marketing strategy work for you.
Measure, measure, measure. You’re running a business, and the bottom line is determining the return on your investment in social media marketing. But the good news is that social media marketing has a significant impact on the inbound marketing techniques that you’re already using. For example, social networking can increase your search engine ranking, your inbound links, and the number of customers who subscribe to your RSS feed. You will notice that it increases the comments left on your blog, the number of times that your brand is mentioned in cyberspace, and first time visitors. In other words, social networking enhances the strategies you’re already using. You can use a good analytics package plus tracking codes and closed loop marketing to find out the number of visits and sales that occur as a result of your social media marketing strategy.

What you’ll find in the long run is that social media marketing can have a huge impact on the success of your business if you use it the right way. And the right way includes finding your target audience on a small number of appropriate social networking sites, listening to what they have to say, humbly and graciously joining the conversation they’re having about your industry in general and your company in particular, and righting any mistakes that you’ve made in the past. Find the right places to frequent and the right conversations to join and your efforts will pay off in the end!

5 Reasons to Avoid Twitter, and Why You Should Not

admin — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:40:42 +0000

5 Reasons to Avoid Twitter, and Why You Should Not

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

1. Useless Information. It’s true that many Twitter users update their Twitters with completely useless information. Do you really need to know that someone just finished their second cup of coffee or is leaving the office early for a pedicure? The good news is that if you find that you don’t particularly enjoy a person’s tweets, you don’t have to continue following them. But don’t eliminate this option altogether. One of the most important aspects of Web 2.0 is engaging people in all aspects of their lives, even the mundane stuff. Share yourself, welcome the opportunity to let others share themselves with you, and you will go a long way toward building a loyal customer base. People are much more willing to do business with you if they think you have a vested interest in their needs and thoughts.

2. It’s a Waste of My Time. This is probably the most valid reason of all. But the truth is that many marketers generate traffic and leads when potential customers find them through Twitter. When the content you share is relevant and high-quality, you can drive visitors to your website to learn more. Twitter is simply another tool for online marketing, so don’t write it off until you’ve given it a shot to see what it can do for you. Do some of your own research to discover the multitude of business uses for Twitter and you might just be convinced that it’s not a total waste of time after all.

3. It’s Time-Consuming. Like any online endeavor, you can blow a lot of valuable time following your streams and entering your own tweets. But you can salvage some of your time by using RSS feeds to follow relevant conversations. Visit search.twitter.com and click on the link to “Feed for this query.” You can then follow the conversations that are most important and relevant to you and your business. If that’s not optimal for you, simply discipline yourself to check only once or twice per day.

4. Twitter Doesn’t Cater to My Customers. Before you decide that your customers aren’t on Twitter, look for yourself. Go to Search.Twitter.com. Search for the name of your company, the name of your product, and keywords relevant to your business. If you’re afraid that your market may be too niche-y for Twitter, remember that your job as a marketer is to find people where they are. If there are a few folks on Twitter within your niche, put yourself there as well.

5. It Could Lead to Bad Press. Whether you’re on Twitter or not, people are still talking about you, and you need to know about it. Even if there’s poor feedback on Twitter, you need the opportunity to let folks know that you’re aware and that you’re going to do something about whatever it is that has disappointed them. If you respond quickly to the concerns of your detractors, you will go a long way towards putting out potentially damaging fires. Thoughtful responses make a huge difference in customer attitudes. Remember that if a critical mass of bloggers pick up on negative press and write about it themselves, things can get out of hand very quickly. On the other hand, you can make a great name for yourself if you address customer concerns promptly and tactfully.

6 Reasons to Avoid the Social Media News Release

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:55:25 +0000

6 Reasons to Avoid the Social Media News Release

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

The Social Media News Release is a template available for the sole purpose of incorporating social media and multimedia into press releases. And while it may sound like an absolutely ingenious idea, it probably isn’t the best use of time and money for your business. Here are 6 reasons why using a SMNR may be one of the biggest mistakes you’re making.

1. People Don’t Read Them. Let’s face it, this is not the best way to get your information out to the general public. The number of people who actually view releases on news release websites is quite small. There are better ways to reach your potential customers that aren’t nearly as expensive or time-consuming.

2. They’re Expensive. The optimal use of an SMNR is to send a Social Media News Release with Multimedia, and it’s expensive. Even a limited distribution will cost you hundreds of dollars at minimum. Compare this to the cost of writing a blog, which will also allow you to include images and video. The blog is far cheaper and gives you a much higher return on your investment.

3. There’s No Critical Mass. One of the most important aspects of marketing with social media is that you can gather a huge number of like-minded or like-interested people in the same place. If you use an SMNR to send your information out to 500 websites, you may only get one or two comments on each website. If that’s the case then your interested parties aren’t talking to each other, which defeats the purpose of social media marketing. Not to mention the time and tedium involved in responding to comments on each of the 500 websites to which your release was sent. Consider instead how you might get those 500 commenters to have a conversation with each other.

4. They Don’t Help Your SEO. The whole point of news releases in general is to get inbound links to your site. And while SMNRs contain links, those links are not optimized and generally link to resources other than your website. Use the online Press Release Grader to see how your SMNR release stands up. You’ll most likely find that you have too many links, and that diminishes the effectiveness of your release greatly.

5. They Don’t Help You Reach Your Goals. The whole point of marketing your business is to get people to come to your website and get them to buy your products. So why would you spend money to put your information on another website? We’ve already noted that SMNRs generally don’t result in optimal links to your site, so there’s really no sense in using them for that purpose.

6. They Don’t Allow You to Use Your Own Mutlimedia Accounts. Did you know that if you want to include a video in your SMNR then you have to upload that video to the news release service’s YouTube account? That’s right! Never mind that you’ve already uploaded the video to your own account; now you have to upload it to theirs as well. This means that your video is sitting in an account with thousands of other videos that aren’t at all related to your product or service. So if a potential customer actually finds your videos and wants to see more from your business, he has to search a lot harder than if all of your videos were lumped together in your account. Another problem is similar to the one we mentioned in #3. The comments left on the new release service’s account are separate from the ones left on your account, so your commenters don’t have the opportunity to interact with one another. And you have to visit your video in both places to respond to all of the comments.

You’re much better off simply creating your own release, without images or video, and sending it over the wire, specially if you don’t have the know-how to optimize them. Save the really cool release for your own website where you have control over what happens to it. You’ll save time and money, and the results will be greatly beneficial.

The Response was as expected … rightly so to a certain extended that is why there is a second part on how to do it right! Checkout the second part of this post Social Media News Release Part II

Using Social Media as an HR Tool

admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:57:32 +0000

Using Social Media as an HR Tool

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

If you’re a business owner, have you considered the myriad of ways that social networking sites can help you in your hiring decisions? Given the number of individuals using social networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, it’s almost foolish not to do a little digging on such sites when you’re looking for prospective employees. In the past, many employers have entered prospective employees’ names into search engines, but social networking sites are a whole different ballgame. They encourage users to post personal information and have broken down the barrier between what is kept private and what is shared with everyone.

CareerBuilder recently released survey results showing that 22% of the respondents check social networking sites when considering adding a prospective employee to the candidate pool. And almost one-third said that information they had found on social networking sites caused them to release employees from the pool of candidates. Respondents said that information most likely to influence them included alcohol and drug use, poor communication skills, negative information about coworkers and employers, and inappropriate photographs.

Twitter, the newest of the highly-popular social networking tools, also offers employers a way to obtain information about employees. Twitter displays the time and date of each post, giving employers invaluable information when they read that Employee X is “sneaking away for an hour” while he’s supposed to be working on a project. Can you imagine how it will affect your hiring practices to know what your prospective employee has tweeted in the days and hours before her interview?

Social networking sites can play a huge part in your hiring practices. But what if you’re the one looking for the job? Keep these 5 rules in mind:

1. Be Picky About Your Friends. No matter how clean you keep your comments and your profile, you may have friends who post those photos from last weekend when you couldn’t even stand up straight. If you have friends whose discretion leaves much to be desired, at least request that they not provide compromising content about you.

2. Be as Professional as Possible. It’s fine to chit-chat with friends on your profile as long as you keep it to a minimum and as long as your banter is innocuous. Be careful about everything you post.

3. Ponder the Details. Part of the fun of social networking sites is adding interesting applications and updating your status. But think about how a person who hardly knows you will interpret your applications and updates. If it’s at all questionable, leave it off of your profile.

4. Use Your Time Wisely. If the social networking site you’re using has a time stamp, current and potential employers can quickly see how long you’re spending online. So minimize that time.

5. Check Regularly. You don’t need to check your accounts every five minutes, but be aware of what’s going on as much as possible. If a “friend” posts something embarrassing and you don’t notice it until three days later, a potential employer might have already seen it and made a decision based upon it. Likewise, if you have older accounts that haven’t been updated in awhile, delete them or update them. Potential employers should have the most up-to-date information possible.

Social networks are a great tool for getting “insider” information on potential employees, that information that you always wish you’d known before you made a hire. Don’t hesitate to use it to your advantage and weed out candidates before you have a chance to waste your time interviewing them. And if you’re really excited about positive information you find on a candidate’s profile, use that to guide conversations once you actually have the chance to talk to them. Social networking is an invaluable tool, so use it!

7 Keys to a Successful Community Website

admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:12:23 +0000

7 Keys to a Successful Community Website

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

It’s not always easy to promote yourself, especially if that mode of social interaction doesn’t come to you naturally. But there’s no denying the benefit of a well-run community website. It’s a place where business owners and marketers can talk freely about their companies and their ambitions, and where they can find support in their endeavors. And for those who own such websites, there’s money to be made. Here are 7 keys to a successful community website.

1. Focus. Your community website should have a clear and consistent focus, and you should regularly remind your participants of that focus, just so everyone is on the same page. Don’t try to be all things to all people by letting your website be about whatever comes to mind. You want potential participants to know exactly what to expect. That’s what keeps them coming back.

2. Follow Your Bliss. If your website is focused on something you don’t really care about, your visitors will know. Find something that you’re passionate about and you will motivate others to join you on your journey. You’ll have a good time, and so will the participants in your community. Don’t pick a focus just because it looks profitable or popular. Choose what you love.

3. Do it Yourself. Your website needs to have your personality stamped all over it from the very beginning. Let the content reflect your own passions and keep yourself accountable for consistent, relevant updates to the site. If you’re not invested in it from the ground up then you can’t count on it to succeed. It’s not getting it started that’s difficult; it’s easy enough to create a blog or a forum. It’s keeping it going in the early stages that can be challenging, so make sure you’re investing enough time and energy from the start.

4. Ask for Help. As soon as you’ve gotten your website up and running, enlist whatever help you need. Ask people to post responses, comment, and moderate on your behalf. Generate as much interest as possible by starting great discussions and asking people to join in. The more the merrier, particularly at the beginning when you’re convincing potential participants that your website is a great place to be. Start close to home with friends and family whom you trust. Then branch out to others in your field who might be interested.

5. Keep Everyone’s Interest. Post stories that will engage your participants. Ask engaging, edgy, controversial questions. Offer good advice and always be positive. That’s the kind of stuff that keeps people coming back for more. Avoid the temptation to simply post news that your readers can find anywhere, although it never hurts to do this from time to time, especially if the news is relevant to your niche. If you need inspiration, check out Digg to see what kinds of stories people find interesting and exciting.

6. Give Things Away. Who doesn’t love a fun contest? You can get your participants coming back again and again if you give things away that have some value and are related to your niche. Think of things that might not even cost anything, like a story on your website that features their business.

7. Offer Constant Encouragement. You’ll find that some of your visitors are more active than others and participate on a daily basis. Use your website as a way to recognize their participation and thank them for continuing to come back and contribute. Maintain contact with them and solicit any suggestions they might have for improving your site. When you keep your active visitors happy then they’re more likely to recruit more participants for you.

You’ll find that people are much more willing to talk about their businesses when they have a positive, encouraging facilitator. Be that person and you’ll be on your way to a successful community website!

The 4 P’s of Inbound Marketing

admin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:19:56 +0000

The 4 P’s of Inbound Marketing

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

Anyone with a background in marketing remembers the 4 P’s, right? If you don’t, they are Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. While the 4 P’s are still important, it’s time to get familiar with 4 new P’s of inbound marketing: Persona, Publishing, Participation, and PageRank.

Inbound marketing is anything you do to make connections with potential customers. It may be social networking, search engine optimization, or article marketing. The power of inbound marketing is that it is an efficient way to generate sales leads through relationships created by social media, through inbound links, and through search engine rankings.

So, what do you need to know about the 4 P’s of inbound marketing?

1. Persona. Persona refers to the profile of the demographic you want to reach. But don’t be fooled into thinking that this demographic includes only potential customers. It also includes bloggers who may write about your market niche, media outlets, and current customers. As you consider the persona of your demographic, think about what their goals are, what types of media they use when solving problems or trying to answer questions, their values, their vocabulary, the types of multimedia that attract them, and what kinds of problems they might be trying to solve.

The more thought you put in to your persona, the more efficiently you will be able to connect with potential customers and others who have the power to get your name and message in front of those who need to know about you and what you offer.

2. Publishing. After you’ve created your personas, think about how you will design content to meet them where they are. SEO experts and internet marketing professionals know that content is king when it comes to inbound marketing. This includes podcasts, blogs, case studies, eBooks, and articles. The beauty of content creation is that you will rarely if ever have to pay for advertising space given the wide variety of free content distribution opportunities available.

Make sure that your content is constantly updated and always relevant. This will ensure inbound links and a higher probability of receiving high rankings for your chosen keywords.

3. Participation. Social networking has forever changed the face of internet marketing. Marketing is now about making connections, building relationships, and sharing information. It is no longer enough to put a marketing message in front of potential customers in order to influence them. Marketers must now use relationships to influence others. Participate in the social web by monitoring your favorite blogs and news sites, commenting on blogs whenever your comments are appropriate, rating and reviewing products that are relevant to your market niche, posting to forum discussions that are relevant to your products or services, creating accounts on MySpace and Facebook and using those resources to your greatest advantage, and utilizing Twitter.

In some cases you will have to do some research about how to most effectively and efficiently use social networking, but the time you put into it will certainly pay off in the end.

4. PageRank. PageRank is Google’s method of measuring the popularity of a website. It is calculated on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. While Google never releases the algorithm that it uses to calculate PageRank, most SEO experts and internet marketing professionals believe that inbound links from relevant sites have the most bearing on PageRank.

You can increase your inbound links quickly by publishing high-quality, relevant content, and by natural search engine optimization. And the higher your PageRank, the more your site will be sought out by potential customers, competitors, and those with whom you can build important relationships.

Know who you’re marketing to, engage in social networking, create fresh content, and optimize your website to maximize inbound links. You’ll be well on your way to mastering the 4 new P’s of inbound marketing.

Can Social Media Tools Like Linkedin Help Your Business?

MoeTamani — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:39:47 +0000

Can Social Media Tools Like Linkedin Help Your Business?

internet marketing Articles from Moe Tamani, the SEO Services Consultant.

How many emails have you received from friends or colleagues inviting you to join LinkedIn? More than you can count? Join the club. If you haven’t spent a lot of time learning about LinkedIn then it may just seem like another way to spend time you don’t have, but SEO experts advise that LinkedIn can be an excellent tool for growing your business. Here are 5 reasons why LinkedIn can work for you.

1. It’s a Great Business Development Tool.

What business owner doesn’t love a warm lead? Much more pleasant than cold calls, warm leads allow you to contact people whom you already know are interested in your product or service. If you’re interested in doing business with ABC Company, you can find their employees on LinkedIn. When you go to meet with the president of the company, you can use LinkedIn to find out about her background and her interests. You can also find out if you have any contacts in common.

In your search for employees of ABC Company, be sure to find former employees as well as current employees. Get information about the company that the company may not want you to know.

2. Off-Site Factors are Important for Your Business.

Google ranks your website based on the quality and popularity of the relevant websites that link to it. This is far more important for getting top rankings than a lot of what you include on your website. One of the easiest things you can do with your LinkedIn profile is to include your business website.

Another thing you can do is write articles and send them to online magazines, making sure to include a link to your website in your signature. This is all hard work, but it will definitely pay off in the end.

3. It Helps Increase Your Credibility

We live in a world where your potential customers can easily find a lot of information about business owners. A high-quality LinkedIn profile that includes recommendations and information about your background can be invaluable. You may even find that you receive calls from people who found you on LinkedIn and are interested in hearing more about your product or service.

4. It Showcases Your Website.

Once you’ve created a LinkedIn profile, log out again and then search for your LinkedIn profile. Copy the address in the browser bar and add it to your signature for sending out emails. You’d be surprised at the number of people who, just out of curiosity, click on the link. Even someone who may not have known she was interested in your website may find that she wants to know more about your product or service.

5. It Can Help In a Job Search

Whether you’re looking for employment yourself or need to hire someone for your business, LinkedIn can perform for you. If you’re looking for a job, include your LinkedIn profile address on your resume. If you have the right kinds of recommendations in your profile, it can benefit you a great deal. The best way to get good recommendations is to write good recommendations for other people first.

Social and business networking sites may initially seem fluffy and just another way to waste valuable time, but they can actually be a great business tool. Whether you’re looking for a job, for employees, or simply looking to get connected with other people, LinkedIn can be a very valuable internet marketing tool. If you want more information on how LinkedIn can work for you, consult and SEO or internet marketing company. Professionals in the field can get you started in right direction, both by helping you design a quality website and by helping you create a LinkedIn profile that will get results fast.