Posts filed under ‘social networking’
Social Networking Can Help You Find Jobs & Employees
MSNBC.com recently posted an article that further proves the value of social networking. Rusty Weston explains in his article that social networks have become a resource for both job seekers and recruiters. Through groups that share a common denominator—for example, a group that is comprised of past employees from a particular company—members of social networks can work together to share their connections and set themselves up for possible job recruitment. LinkedIn® seems to be the best place for this type of activity since its focus is on professional social networking over, well, merely-social social networking. Social networks aren’t just for those seeking jobs; headhunters and job recruiters are increasingly using social networks to find prospective employees.
If you’re a member of a social network like LinkedIn or MySolutionSpot™, take the time to associate yourself with a group that is relevant to your current position or your past areer experiences. Looking for a job? Optimizing your social networking profile and joining a group that pertains to your work skills is one of the best ways to get noticed. For busines owners and recruiters who are looking for employees, browsing through groups relevant to your industry can provide you with candidates that have the experience you’re looking for.
To view Weston’s article, please visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30481596//.
Managing Your Social Media Presence
Social media participation is only beneficial if you (yup, you’ve guessed it!) participate. The following article explains how you can effectively monitor your social media accounts in just ten minutes a day:
Do Mature Businesses Have an Advantage Over Startups?
According to The Small Business Success Index*, an ongoing study of U.S. small businesses, “mature businesses have an edge over startups and newer companies.” The study also claims that “being in a growing or mature industry has a direct bearing on a business’ competitiveness.”
Many startups and new businesses have limited access to capital, which makes it difficult for them to advertise as aggressively as mature businesses or invest a great deal of money into building their businesses. They also typically have a harder time gaining the recognition necessary to compete with more reputable businesses. However, their lack of a recognizability can be a good thing, as well. It allows them to take larger risks. For this reason, many new businesses rely on innovation to build awareness and gain a competitive edge.
In my opinion, a startup that can create a product or service, capable of meeting an unfilled and long-lasting demand for a large consumer group, can obtain – and even secure – a competitive advantage over a solid, mature business. Take look at Twitter™, MySpace® and Facebook®, for instance. They are among the most well-known Web sites worldwide, yet they were all launched fewer than 10 years ago. Their quick success was a result of their innovativeness. Of course, Twitter, MySpace and Facebook are not representative of the norm, but you get the idea.
I want your input on these findings. Do you think mature businesses have an edge over startups and newer companies? Please leave a comment.
*The Small Business Success Index, an ongoing measurement of the overall health of U.S. small businesses, was commissioned by Network Solutions, LLC and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. To take the survey yourself, click here.
How You Can Learn More about Social Media
Social media, social media, social media − it’s hard to ignore. Practically every business and business professional is a member of at least one professional networking site. Many of us also have personal accounts on sites like Facebook®, MySpace® and Twitter™.
So, as a small business owner or manager, how can you use social media to your advantage? This article explains how you can learn more about social media by attending local seminars, participatiing in online marketing summits and more: http://www.clickz.com/3633103.
Networking Online and Offline
Networking has always played an integral role in business. It enables its participants to develop mutually beneficial relationships with those who share their interests.
Offline Networking
Networking events come in all sizes. Large events usually take place during industry conferences and tradeshows. While it is sometimes difficult for attendees to engage in in-depth discussions at these events, they are great for making connections with business professional from across the country and sometimes from across the world.
Smaller, more intimate networking events are also available. These events typically target a local audience. They are great for jobseekers. They are also ideal for those who wish to develop partnerships with local businesses.
Online Networking
Networking events typically require a bit of boldness on the part of the attendee because he or she must initiate conversations with complete strangers. For that reason, some people prefer to network online, using social networking Web sites like LinkedIn®, MySolutionSpot™ and Twitter™. Some social networking sites allow for real-time conversations, while others let their users communicate via forums and emails. These sites have successfully connected millions of people worldwide, and their members often take it upon themselves to arrange networking events and face-to-face meetings.
All business professionals should engage in some form of networking. Both offline and online networking are capable of producing valuable relationships.
Finding Capital: Separating the Bad from the Good
According to a recent small business report comprised by the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and Network Solutions®, “the single biggest competitive disadvantage of America’s small businesses today is in meeting their capital needs to grow their businesses.” As a result, sites like TheFunded.com are quickly gaining popularity.
From what I can see, theFunded.com is an online community for entrepreneurs who are looking for quality investors. Members can easily search for investors by geography and funding level. They can also find out whether or not an investor is rated highly by other members or rate the investor(s) themselves.
This site is only free to CEOs; therefore, I did not create an account to further my exploration. If you wish to learn more about TheFunded.com, check out the following video demonstration: http://www.revoltizer.com/movies/index.html
Free Online Business Tools
Did you know that you can have your Web site analyzed, create online surveys to send to your customers and research keywords − all online, all for free? The following article, written by MySolutionSpot™ member Sian Simon, provides a list of complimentary online business tools that you can use to enhance your businesss: http://www.mysolutionspot.com/online-marketing/free-online-resources-for-business-1231/
Are You an Entrepreneur?
If you consider yourself to be an entrepreneur—and let’s face it, many of us do—then you’ll want to check out this article. Dan Schawbel’s article, “Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs,” lists some of the best social networks out there for entrepreneurs and budding business owners. Whether you’re looking for a job, seeking advice on starting your own business, or trying to make business contacts, you can do it through a social network; the benefits of social networking are endless.
There’s a good chance you’re already part of a social network, like LinkedIn® or MySolutionSpot™, but you should consider joining multiple social network sites. Take a look at Schawbel’s article, and give one of the mentioned social networks a try.
