How To Build A Web 2.0 Empire

Today on Twitter, John-Paul Hatala (@jphatala) asked the question “Do people get confused about social media versus social networking?”

The answer to this question is a definite YES!

Technically, social networks include sites like:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
  
• MySpace
• Apsense
  

I constantly hear “social media experts” saying that they have the “answer” to the social media marketing puzzle. For example, I just recently heard:

“To use social media effectively, you need to be on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.”

Now, I agree 100% that anyone who is using social media as part of their overall marketing strategy should at least consider joining the communities of Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter…

BUT, social media marketing is so much more than this.

First of all, there is NO one answer to “how to use social media marketing to grow your business.”

Why?

Because social media is not a one size fits all strategy.

Where you engage in social media marketing dependson your business, your personality, your interests, your target market, your skills and strengths, and the rest of your marketing strategy.

So, besides social networking sites like the ones above, social media also includes things like:

• Blogs
• Video sharing sites (i.e. You Tube)
• Social bookmarking sites (i.e. Digg, Stumble Upon, Del.icio.us)
• Squidoo
• Hub Pages
• Wikis
• Forums
• Microblogging (i.e. Twitter-yes, technical;ly twitter is NOT a social networking site, it’s a microblogging community. But, IMHO, the lines definitelytend to blur (just look at how Facebook, Linkedin, and My Space have status updates, which look just like Tweets.)

Social media is simply any site which relies on “user generated content.”

This means that instead of a typical web 1.0 website where the owner is “broadcasting” their message to readers/ potential customers, the individuals who make up the community are the ones who provide the content.

So, how are blogs social media when the author writes the posts?

Well, the thing about blogs that makesthem so valuable and interactive is that the readers (usually) are allowed to (encouraged to) comment on the content, thus producing even more (user-generated) content.

Again, there is no “magic formula” for the “right” social media communities to participate.

You need to do your research and figure out where you will feel like you are part of the community and therefore will be a willing and active participant. Your chosen social media channels should be places where you feel comfortable generating content and participating in conversation because you WANT TO, not because you HAVE TO because it’s supposed to help you “make money.”

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<blockquote>Today on Twitter, John-Paul Hatala (@jphatala) asked the question "Do people get confused about social media versus social networking?" The answer to this question is a definite YES! Technically, social networks include sites like: Facebook ... <small><br /> <a href="http://web20empire.com/2009/03/30/social-media-marketing-is-more-than-just-social-networking/">“Social Media Marketing” Is More Than Just “Social Networking.”</a> - http://web20empire.com</small></blockquote>

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Tags: blogging, forums, hub pages, microblogging, social bookmarking, social media marketing, social media marketing plan, social networking, squidoo, video sharing, wikis