Best Professional Social Networking Sites for Businesses and Entrepreneurs
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Best Online Social Networking Sites for Entrepreneurs
As an entrepreneur (whether online or offline), it is absolutely crucial for you to have an online presence. It is through this presence that you make business contacts, promote your work and spread the reach of what you're doing beyond the confines of your own hometown. There are many methods of developing this online presence including using blog promotion, social media press releases and general marketing strategies. However, the most important method is to develop a strong network of connections through online social networking sites.
Because there are now so many different online networking sites out there, it can be hard to figure out which are the best ones specifically for promoting your entrepreneurial work. Here are some of the sites that you absolutely need to be active on - as well as a few that may or may not work for you depending on your business niche:
1. LinkedIn. This is a general professional social networking site which is important to be active on because of its sheer popularity. The diversity of the types of people on this site is its biggest benefit as well as its biggest drawback. Luckily, there are a lot of features to make up for the problems of having such a broad network including a job search feature, an easy-to-use interface and a professional working atmosphere.
2. Facebook. This one doesn't require a whole lot of explanation since everyone you know is probably already on it (including yourself) but it bears mentioning because you really do need to be on this site to be established in the online world.
3. Gather. Gather is an online social networking site similar to Facebook in that there may be tons of different people on it. The difference here is that Gather is better at allowing you to easily find contacts and information about the topics that interest you most. This can be great for people who want to network within specific interest areas.
4. Ryze Networking. This social networking site is specifically designed as a network intended to assist you in expanding your circle of business contacts. The motto on this site is that it can be used to "build your network before you need it" which pretty much sums up the mentality of the majority of people working here.
5. Direct Matches. This is a social networking site that goes one step further and combines features of a matchmaking site to bring together business professionals with similar interests and goals. It is a site which is favored by the entrepreneurial professional who specifically works in the Web 2.0 world.
6. Xing. This is another great social networking site although it tends to be more popular overseas than in the United States. It's great for entrepreneurs who want to network at an international level with a relatively intimate group of online people.
7. Ecademy. This is a great professional social networking site. Its interface looks a little bit like the dashboard of remote collaboration software programs so it's a bit more geared towards the professional who works frequently online. The site also offers special deals to business people such as discounts on business cards.
8. YorZ. This is an interesting site because it's primarily a job search site where people can typically find professional job opportunities that aren't being advertised on major classifieds sites. However, it's also a professional social networking site for those employees and employers who are using the site for job searches.
9. Ziggs. This site takes an interesting approach which is to encourage its users to consider the Ziggs page to be a one-stop marketing tool for their image. This is exactly what your online networking profiles ought to be so it's great that there's a site out there designed specifically with this intention in mind. The downside is that not a lot of people are using this site in comparison with some of the others so you may find that your networking abilities on the site are rather limited.
10. Networking for Professionals. This site merges both online and offline social networking to create a business atmosphere that makes sense in the modern world. It's good for meeting new professionals as well as maintaining contact with people you already know. Unlike the other sites on this list, you have to pay a membership fee to join this one. That's a drawback if you're just a minimal user but it's a good thing if you're serious about networking because you'll be meeting others who are also serious about it.
11. Care2. This is a green social networking site so it's not one that's specifically geared towards business. However, it's increasingly important for all entrepreneurs to be able to show some commitment to being green. Doing so while also building up a social network isn't a bad idea.
12. Cake Financial. This is a niche social networking site specifically for people who are involved in investing in the stock market. It's a great place to meet others if you're involved in the finance industry as well as if you're an entrepreneur who wants some great insider tips on investing your money.
13. Plaxo. One thing that you'll discover after doing a lot of social networking is that there are levels to the people in your network. For those people that you want to maintain the closest, most private contact with, this social networking site is the best bet. It makes use of multi-media tools to keep you updated on what's going on with your network. It's ideal for entrepreneurs who want to share information about their work in small doses, starting with the people that their closest to in the business world.
14. NetParty. Some people are interested in social networking that will actually allow them to meet people in person. This is an online site that takes social networking and turns it up a notch by organizing events and parties for the people in the network. It's best for people who live in or work in the major cities of the United States since that's where events are concentrated. It's specifically designed for young professionals so if you're seeking to meet young folks with a passion for professional pursuits as well as for partying, it's a good place.
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Comments
great hub. Thanks for writing it.
very good effective page...
You might add twitter.com to the list also. It seems to be on the up swing.
Very informative! A little something for everyone!
I think its most important to pick out 2-3 social networks that you have identified as the biggest opportunities, and then be the most active on those social networks. In my experience, just JOINING a social network won't bring much value, but being Active, and being a VALUE ADD to that social network can bring your site traffic.
For example, with my site www.WineToTheFace.com , we have identified Digg, StumbleUpon, Facebook, Yelp, and OpenWineConsortium as the biggest opportunities for new users and repeat traffic, so LinkedIn, MySpace, and the 100,000+ other social networks that one can find on Ning.com are currently an after thought.
Good tips Kathryn and comments above from yomraholmes;) I wish i had more time to socailise offline and online for social and business reasons but i am making lots of notes for when i do;)
ty:)
thanks you just gave me some new places to go check out, and some I probably won't since you were very direct in how they let us socialize. TY bunches, new fan!
Hi,
Thanks for the tips Kathryn, however i would also add in squidoo lens.
ty
Nice list of social networking sites. What's your favorite?
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Good List i also found a new social site that you might be able to add to your list check out my blog..I found that you have an option to make and individual and business profiles. http://bit.ly/E5XTT
Sounds good...and in regards to RTaveras's blog thank you for the info. www.aroundtheway.com is really cool
Hey Kathyrn, you've actually shown me different aspects of social networking. These social networks are advancing by the minute. And that www.aroundtheway.com website is really cool. I look foward to reading more of your blogs.
Very informative. I'm only familiar with a couple and use them. Thanks!
Good hub but you forgot one major social networking site - twine.com
Very very good list of social networking sites. Probably the best so far i have seen on the internet.
Thank you so much
Very nice article bookmarked it. I use facebook and will look into a couple of others you suggested. Peace!!!
Hi,
You have done your homework. There are many social networks you list here which I have never heard of. I will check out a few of them. Thanks for the list.
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Nice hub, I am going to check out Ziggs, and a few others.
Thanks for the info :)
Excellent information. I use many of these site myself to promote my business. I really like what a social networking site can do not only for your business but for your reputation. Check out: http://hubpages.com/hub/Advertising-Your-Business-
And:
I think a site worth mentioning is Profession Junction (http://www.professionjunction.com). It's a portal for businesses and professionals.
Thanks for your hub.
There are so many social networking sites.
A lot to chew on.
Kathryn,do you have a favourite?.
Is it hub pages for you?.
I use Face-Book a lot but do like what i see in hub pages.
Happy new year!
Gavin
Thanks for sharing this list of social networking sites with us. I think you have provided us with great advice, but if I may, I suggest starting off with only one or two social networks, become comfortable with them, and then continue joining more networks. It is also important to target your specific client base. Don't go so broad that your not really making an impact, but reach people who matter. Thats my two cents at least.
Nice list of must-do sites to create a profile on. I would also include YouTube in that list. It is the second largest search engine in the US. We've had clients use their channels for screencasts or even quick how to videos. It can be a very effective marketing tool.
Thanks for sharing great resources. Will you please provide us links of these sites? Thanks.
Very useful list I didn't know yet. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing those social networking site. This is helpful for the people who has a business most specially for those who are engage on online business.With this site we can make connection and publish our websites and products.
Very useful information. Thanks Hub!
Great hub!!! Love it..
Great hub!!! Love it..
Thanks for the information. Very good hub.
Very informative hub on the social networking aspect of this writing business. I am delighted with the list of sites and the explanation of each. You have saved me a lot of time in research. I need more traffic to my hubs and this is the next step. So thanks for making it easier for me.
Awesome. You confirmed a couple hot spots for me. BUT, more importantly, you exposed my ignorance!(glad you wrote this 2 years ago seeing as that it took me that long to get to it)
Much appreciated.
useful hub i had joined in many site.
This is good advise, you've mentioned a few inmportant points, again using all of these will give your work online presense, but as some have pointed out adding value and being active is also teh key to getting bang for bucks on this one.
This is a great lists. I have to agree that facebook is a good place to interact with friends and people. Care2 is also great because of ec-friendly tips and features. Thanks for sharing
awesome hub, dude.. thankya!
Very nice list, thank you! I have a few new places to check out, now. :)
Great list - thanks!
Have you checked out Aaachoo! yet? It's brand new. I'd be interested to hear your (or anyone's) take on it.
Hi Kathryn, as ever a very good hub that we can all learn from. The issue of what sites to get involved in takes a bit if trial and error as what works for you on one might not work in another.
You also have to factor in the levels of spam and rubbish there as your message is easily lost in the garbage.
Great hub, keep it up. James
For me it has to be twitter, I have tried to get into facebook and I know I should byut twitter is the only thing that does not feel like work and that has to be a good thing.
Rob
I never knew! Thanks for sharing all your Web 2.0 social networking properties. I voted you up and I think your AWESOME...thanks for the info. I am already following you.
Frank
I guess MySpace is losing its popularity worldwide. They should make an awe interactive feauture to get up.
This is great info thanks
Very comprehensive hub. Keep it up.
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Thanks kat, your list is wonderful and tight. But I wonder why ning a platform where ordinary users can used advanced tools and todays technology to create their own personalised and customised social network for free or pay a little more for upgrade. Thanks for your info, got it bookmarked, and 'll stumble it as well
great list, very useful as it can be difficult to gather all this info on your own without guidance
An interesting hub. Thanks for posting.
I use http://twitter.com and http://voonee.com to advertise my sites
This is a good collection.
Thanks
Gideon Shalwick
Great hub and great list. I might as well use this and try if it will work out. Thanks for sharing this.
I agree. social networking is crucial for business
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Thanks for this information. I personally, like facebook.
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Great article, it's interesting to read past articles on social networking and see how things have changed in the months that have passed. Facebook seems unbeatable right now, but for how long?
in 2011, I beleive that AreebaAreeba would be the revolution in the business and professional social networking. It helps businesses and business professionals create groups, sales channels, uploading multimedia content and discuss a topic of interest to memebers. the site can be found at www.areebaareeba.com
Great hub! Thanks for sharing
One of the best things I have found for business networking is The MingleStick. You have to Check This out.
A great hub. Thank you
Nice hub but need to make corrections as some of the websites are closed like: yorz. Also few websites has changed their business model.
Anyhow Linkedin, Facebook, Ryze, Xing are some of the still popular networks.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is great blog. A great read. Ill definitely be back.
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I wonder how this page scored 100? because of the page created by the hubber with 100 as hubscore ?
Excellent information Kathryn Vercillo!!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
There is a lot of good information here. Thanks for the info.
Thank you for this resource.
Ecademy, I never enjoyed that site and it has been around for ages. Thanks for some more ideas and options in the world of online social networking.
Great list. But only registering at a social networking site and then never getting back to it doesn't do any good.
You have to work harder to grow your network.
Great Info and I'm not aware of most of the sites you shared here thanks for it
That is fantastic list. Surely check out the ones I didn't know. Thanks.
Thanks for the great information,Interesting hub
With 4,503 followers (the last one being myself) I would say you've mastered social networking. Great blog.
Great Hub, I will definitely look into a bunch of these sites
that's quality, should be on every tree!
I have been using Facebook, and that seems to be helping. I had not idea there were so many other choices!
Been using linked in to create a social network of like-minded people. I use facebook for personal friends etc.
Terrific Information! Thanks for this hub.
Thanks for posting this information it helps a lot and such an interesting hub.
I honestly don't care for Twitter, but it's been pretty good for business. Many people use it for that. I don't have a personal account, but it's great for networking.
Great hub.......!! Dis is Very good information
Facebook and twitter are useless
this is a very use full
LinkedIn is a very good social media site for business owners.
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A good place to market your business is Facebook because they have a lot of users.
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Hi2friends.com is my favorite social netowrking site like facebook and myspace.
Hi2friends.com is a social friendly Insta Doc website for sharing Documents and presentation with friends everywhere. You have been on slideshare, seen youtube and had a feel of Facebook. Now have a look so as to create your own documents, graph stats and presentations go live worldwide on hi2friends. Imagine sharing your clips in the form of Document and presentation throughout the world to your friends and business associates instantly.
Insta Doc is for sharing Documents and presentation in a unique approach on hi2friends. Well that’s Insta Doc for quick share.
What’s more, you can create your own page, events and your own apps.
fishskinfreak2008 4 years ago
This information is very useful as I thought that people only used social networks were only used for fun before you posted this hub. Thanks