by Ruth Belena

Created on: February 01, 2010

There are some great networking opportunities for marketers online, and these can be highly effective for marketing almost any type of product, service or program. Networking is also the ideal way to promote a blog or a business website, to gain extra traffic and to get more page views for online articles.

Most networking opportunities for marketers are free, but a few business networks will charge a regular subscription or fee. The big disadvantage of joining a business network is that other members have joined for the same purpose of marketing their own products and services. It is far better be for marketers to find networking opportunities where they can find followers who will share links and provide free viral marketing.

Marketers can build a big following on social networks like LinkedIn, and should not dismiss either Twitter or Facebook for being too trivial. While it is true there are people using those networks for fun, and adding silly updates, there are also a great many members who regularly share business information and links. Those links can include marketing videos, articles, product reviews and anything posted on blogs which can lead directly to sales or sign-ups.

Profile pages at several different social networks can easily be assimilated through feeds, and marketers can find useful applications which will allow them to schedule their updates and post to multiple social sites at the same time.

♦ Twitter

Twitter can be used by marketers for networking when they gain genuine followers who read their updates and visit their links. Some Twitter followers share useful links with their own followers. An update is known as a "tweet" and a shared update is a "retweet". Links in tweets and retweets can be clicked by anyone, and marketers should include one or more keywords so each one can be found from the Twitter search box. Google will also index  those tweets from their keywords.

♦ Facebook

Facebook should also be used for networking and has additional opportunities for marketers. Anyone can create a free Facebook page or a group, and can invite friends and other Facebook members to become a page fan or a group member. Marketers can interact with all their friends, fans and group followers. They can share promotional videos and website content on profiles and pages, and in various groups. There is also an excellent paid ad program at Facebook, which will personalize the ads shown to each individual Facebook member.

♦ LinkedIn

LinkedIn offers marketers great opportunities for networking, and for sharing marketing resources and information. LinkedIn is the best network for self promotion, and a LinkedIn profile page can provide a lot of information, including website links and contact details. LinkedIn groups are great for starting discussions on any topic, and for exchanging marketing tips.

Marketers should take full advantage of opportunities for gaining Twitter followers and getting retweets, communicating with Facebook fans and making business connections through LinkedIn. Networking is a great way to achieve online marketing success. 

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