Social Networking Vs Email (Who Will Win in Business?)

Hyun J Kim asked:




Multiple debates have ensued in regards to social networking surpassing email as the defacto method of communication. Some are saying that the email will be obsolete because social networking sites have increased in popularity.

Most people are aware that online networking has increased in usage. According to the most recent Nielsen’s global study, social networking is growing at twice the rate as email or web portals. It has also outpaced email, based on the time spent by online users. Facebook is the most popular online networking site. Facebook’s major growth comes from 35-49 year olds. It makes a lot of sense. This demographic grew up with technology, so they are very comfortable with new technology. They are also trying to reconnect with high school and college friends. Given the statistic that over 50% of married people get divorced, many of these social networkers are probably looking for relationships. They have created enough connections over their lifetime to seek their old friends and lovers.

What are businesses doing with social networking and how does that affect email?

Many large organizations do not allow instant messaging (IM) or internet access outside of their organization. Internally, enterprise companies have created their own social networking sites and instant messaging capabilities for their users to collaborate instantly. However, organizations are still using email heavily for general communication. IM is mainly used for informal chats. Just 10-20 years ago, workers used their phones to have an informal or quick conversation. That was the form of instant messaging in the old days. The downside was that you were constantly leaving people messages when they were not in the office. So, instant communication was hindered if they did not have a cell phone. Currently, workers are moving away from phone conversations to online chats. As more and more companies conduct their businesses globally, online capabilities and video conferencing provide instant communication to their partners, customers, and employees.

The public social networking sites are used by businesses for external communication and brand marketing. It is mainly used by B to C (business to consumer) companies or companies who market to the consumers to promote their products and extend their customer service. Social networking is another marketing avenue for B to C companies to extend their marketing reach. Twitter is the most used medium. Enterprise companies are using social networking to elicit instant feedback for new products or changes to current products. It can reduce their time to market from months to weeks. Social networking redefines the meaning of customer driven products.

In addition, companies are using chat as an extension to their customer service and offering it as an alternative to phone conversations. Email inquiry has been offered for years, but the delay in responses or sometimes no response at all has reduced customer service instead of enhancing it.

For formal communication that needs to be documented, email is still the best way to track agreements, conversations, legal contracts, etc. Communicating with the outside vendors, partners, and customers require formal writing. You can also archive email conversations and provide them as legal documents.

Email seems to be proliferating, and the email industry is growing at double digits. Most people want to communicate by email in business. The debate should not be about will social networking replace email; it should be about how social networking is replacing phone conversations. Unfortunately, human beings are losing the ability to talk to one another without having an electronic device that dehumanizes the interaction.

The days of having lengthy phone conversations are becoming obsolete. If you want to get an update from a friend, all you need to do is look at their Facebook page.

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Social Networking and Squidoo – Using Squidoo for Effective Social Networking

Vince Runza asked:




Social Networking is one of those “buzz word” phrases that gets a lot of attention, but not a lot of respect. It’s the same with Squidoo. Many folks are talking about the “MySpace for grownups” that Squidoo represents, but do you have a lens there? Do you even know what a lens is?

The most important growth in using the Internet for marketing is on a personal level. People are going to their peer group to find out what they want. More and more, the authority of the average person counts for more than SERP’s (Search Engine Results Pages). Even the search engines are noticing and “loving” the common man by giving top billing to classified ads, eBay listings and Social Networking pages.

Gone are the days when you could put up a Web site or Blog, optimized for special keywords, and count on either good placement in Google searches or tons of “backlinks” to you. In fact, it’s become almost a regular occurance for your hard work to end up ignored and unloved. Now you need validation from your peers and the wider world before you can have an impact.

Here’s where I tell you what to do: go poke around Squidoo and see what folks are doing there. If you’re into Internet Marketing, there are scores of pages on the subject, linking together a wealth of resources on the subject. You’ll also find personal lenses that are just about people’s lives and interests: pets, coffee, social issues, more pets, more coffee, photography, charities, etc. A lens is a focus on a person’s passion, profession or pet peeve.

My interest is effective article marketing, and using all the tools available to maximize my efforts. My Squidoo page is a part of this effort, just as well as putting up articles at well respected, high Page Rank article directories. A clever article marketer will actually have an RSS feed of the articles from just such a place on his/her Squidoo page.

The actual “how-to” of using techniques is best found by searching Squidoo’s pages for highly ranked authors, and using other resources that are to hand.

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Online Social Networking – How Building a Network of Social Contacts Can Build You a Fortune

Steve Boston asked:




Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites have taken off in just the last few years reflecting a need and demand in society to connect and build relationships with people beyond their circle of friends in day-to-day living. The internet has opened up an entire new world of networking that could hardly have been imagined a decade ago. A side benefit to this explosion is the possibility of creating a social network of people who come together with a shared interest. Not only can you create a network of new friends and associates around the world, you can now add a business dimension to this that is truly mind boggling. By helping others to realize their dreams of financial empowerment you can earn a fortune!

Regardless of your age, background or experience online social network marketing is the cutting edge industry that very few people know about. Most small businesses-and many larger ones still rely on traditional forms of business to move their products and services. These methods do work but do not provide the growth and expansion that the added dimension of technology can bring.

Some companies allow individuals to tie into their systems of distribution to move products that use methods similar to franchising. Hybrid marketing is one such system. It combines traditional retail marketing, social networking and online marketing all rolled into one. An individual, without the risk and investment of buying a franchise can literally start a business that can spread around the world. This would not be possible if not for the advent of online social networking sites.

Take advantage of modern technology. Instead of just using Twitter, Facebook and Myspace to communicate with more people and become part of a larger community of online social networkers–change your ideas about how to make money and become an online marketing entrepreneur. As a television producer and author I grew tired of all the inside politics of the entertainment industry and decided to begin funding my own projects. The power of the internet and such social networking sites like YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have literally changed the way I make money. They can change the way you navigate in this world of commerce too.

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