When the Internet was first developed, the creator of the product published most of the information he could find about a product or business on a commercial website. These first-generation business websites allowed consumers to search for information, find product details or specifications, and use that information to determine which product or service to purchase.

Today, the Internet and its use have evolved light years into the future. Commercial websites are more creative and extensive, and websites with user-generated content are becoming more and more popular. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many others give people and businesses a place to connect with their current and potential buyers. As a result, when it comes to reaching our potential markets, relying solely on websites and traditional marketing channels will no longer be enough.

Social networks can have a strong impact on the way a business grows online. To realize the full impact and far-reaching benefits these sites can offer, you’ll have to get past the perception that they’re for recreational use only. Social media opens the door of opportunity for businesses to add to the communications aspect of their marketing plans and cannot be overlooked as an effective online marketing strategy. By creating profiles on social networking sites, you have the opportunity to target your market by connecting with people who have some kind of interest in what you have to offer, reducing the amount of time and money you may spend trying to find a focused group. to speak with.

Start your social media marketing campaign by choosing one or two of the most popular social media sites. There are dozens, but you should start small with one or two so you can focus your efforts before adding others to your campaign. The most popular include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, MySpace and Delicious. After you create a profile on one of these sites, you can use it to make connections, network and promote your products and services with stakeholders, and gather customer feedback. Other benefits can include a surge of backlinks and traffic to your website, both from your social networks and from those who post to your blogs and websites.

Let’s not forget the most important benefit: customer engagement and feedback. By appearing on social media websites, you will open yourself up to criticism from the public. Granted, most of your contacts are likely to praise what you do, those who have had bad experiences are likely to speak up as well. These instances will give you the opportunity to address concerns, both publicly and privately, and can improve your relationships with customers.

As well as an investment of time, you’ll find that working with these sites is a low-cost alternative to traditional marketing methods. Anyone with Internet access can take advantage of these networks to create connections and make information available to the public.