May
13
Choosing Relevant Social Networks and Media
May 13, 2010 | Leave a Comment
In a previous article about choosing between all those other social networks I highlighted how many other social networks there are aside from the main players and link to a number of resources. Weekly, I am invited to join new social networks or groups or hear about new ones popping up.
The problem is choosing which ones to belong to. You will have often read that the word “relevant” in my articles, so how do you choose or even know what is relevant? You may have heard go where your target market is, but how do you know whether they are using a particular social network or medium without doing expensive research?
Finding relevant networks could take a lot of work and effort if you go by trial and error and most of us just don’t have that sort of time. Even I, sometimes, wonder whether I could be missing out by not joining a group I was invited to – but that is just good selling. Here is my advice for choosing relevant social networks or mediums:
1. Decide what you want to achieve using social networks; there are many objectives e.g. improve knowledge, build new relationships, selling, branding, research, PR, customer service to name some.
2. Build a list of keywords relevant to your objective.
3. Start with the main social networks e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn and search your keywords.
4. Take a look at the results, are the conversations relevant to your objectives, if they are join or follow.
5. Search for active blogs based on the topics in your keyword list and add them to your favourites or feed and contribute whenever you can add value.
Just taking these 5 steps should get you started and help you to get your head around the networks, groups, pages and blogs that are relevant to your objectives.
Relevance means that they add value or help you achieve your objectives. The rest is just noise, but always keep an eye open for new opportunities that are relevant. Once you have some experience taking part in your chosen social networks, understand the time requirements and can assess the results from what is in your current basket then you can then put out your feelers and widen your horizons. Just be careful not to go too wide – it is easy to get lost.
PS: I am busy developing a social media eCourse and my newsletter subscribers will be able to get the beta version for free!
PSS: If you have time please choose an answer in my poll in the first, right hand column. Thanks.
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