How Do You Utilize Social Networking Sites?

One of the critical things any online entrepreneur or virtual assistant needs to do is to stay active on some of the social networking sites.  I get a lot of questions from virtual assistants and budding online entreprneneurs about this very topic.  There are just so many social networking sites popping up these days that you oftentimes feel like you just have to signup, take the time to build your bio and then visit every day to keep on top of things.  In my opinion, these types of activities can sap hours from your day if you are not discriminating in your choice of social networks.  You will ultimately wind up with a laundry list of worthless social networking accounts that you just don’t have time to tend to.  Virtual assistants know about time management!

My advice?  Stop wasting your time with every new social networking site that somehow gets an invitation to your email box.  I suggest that you spend your time and focus on two  or three social networking sites and become expert at utilizing what each offers.  You will find that your social networking efforts become more defined as you make connections with people interested in your industry or with people who are seeking your products and services.  An excellent example of this is Mari Smith who has become known as the “Pied Piper” of Facebook.  She made it her mission to absolutely understand how Facebook could help her in her business and is now considered the Facebook expert.  As a Facebook Business Coach Mari offers an wonderful course called “The Facebook for Professionals – Complete Multi-Media System“.  I recommend it highly!

Once I narrowed my field of social networking sites down to Facebook, LinkdIn and Twitter I found that I was making valuable connections that build and sustain my web development and virtual assistance firms on a daily basis.  I also maintain an account at MyBlogLog, but that is quite honestly all I have time for these days.

Take time each day to build your network on the social networking sites of your choice.  Be proactive in seeking out people who can use your products and services while also seeking out people that you can be of assistance to.  Always give as much, or more than you expect to receive and your experiences on these sites will be very positive and will help you build and grow your business.

Please let me know your thoughts on this topic.