Public Relations is a full time gig for any company, and to add to that laundry list of chores to do as the PR professional you are, you and your company ought to be participating in the social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, to name a few. This article will briefly explain how to use LinkedIn, as well as some of the benefits of using the site.

A social networking site to utilize your real life network connections from business and education, LinkedIn allows you to connect with classmates, professors, coworkers, employees, and employers. This is a great tool to utilize your networks already in place and to increase the size of those networks by seeing the networks your peers have. This enhances the potential one has to find employment, employees, or advice from industry professionals or others who have experience in a field you may be looking to enter. In addition to advice, there are many groups that can be joined for students and professionals alike, such as the PRIntern Group.

Once you’ve signed up to become a LinkedIn member, which takes just a few minutes, filling out your profile takes a little longer. Having a resume to upload will save you time; LinkedIn takes your resume and updates your profile with the information therein. Voila! Work Experience: done. Education: done. Though it may get some things wrong, it’s easier to change once the information is already uploaded, rather than starting from scratch.

Then, once you’ve created a profile, start searching for people you know. You can search by schools you’ve attended, places you’ve worked, even by industry or location. Creating these connections keeps you in touch with past colleagues, professors, or other peers who may be able to help you find a job in these tough times. If anything, it’s a great social tool.

For prospectives looking to enter the PR industry (or any industry, for that matter), remember that your online presence represents you to millions of people, including companies that you may have applied to or are currently working for. Filter your content, make things private, and exclude things you wouldn’t want your mom to see, because she’s probably your friend on a number of these sites as well. More often than not, companies will screen your online accounts to see if you’d be a good potential hire. If your profiles make a bad impression, you may be cast out of the interview pool.

Ashley Wirthlin is the author of http://PublicRelationsBlogger.com. Visit Public Relations Blogger for more PR resources, including hundreds of original content articles, a 450+ term glossary, a list of useful PR Videos, and a blogroll of useful PR Blogs.

Ashley is a Marketing Associate of the H Media Group and writes, edits, and manages the blog daily. You can email Ashley at a ashley.wirthlin@gmail.com.

Author: Ashley Wirthlin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

This is a great article written by Ryan Hicks explaining how Social Media will benefit your business an the importance of  SEO…..

Your business can not afford to be without Social Media. Depending on your business or service, on the internet, Social Media or Social Networking starts with a good SEO compatible website then selecting the best forms of Social Media.

Examples of Social Networking would be online communities such as MySpace and Facebook; these are very popular social networks of personal profiles, groups, blogs, photos, music and videos. Flickr is also commonly used today to share photos and YouTube is extremely popular for video sharing. There are other different forms of Social Media or Social Networking such as, internet forums, message boards, weblogs, podcasts, linking and blogging.

Social Media has different characteristics from traditional media such as newspapers, television, books and radio. The bottom line, social media depends on interactions between people or groups of people. An audience can participate in social media by adding comments, bookmarking or posting links, sharing files (websites, photos, videos, etc.), collecting connections or even just reading and following links. Content in social media can be text, graphics, audio or video. Several of the formats can be mixed and usually available via feeds, enabling users to subscribe via feed readers, and allowing other publishers to create.

Social Media Optimization or SMO is a process where content gets more widely distributed across all available Social Media networks. SMO refers to professional services that can improve a website by including or adding links to various services so webpages can be easily saved and submitted. Social Media Optimization includes good content writing that is unique and informative. SMO services can popularize your website via multiple social media outlets and off-page work can include getting involved in other blogs, forums, and niche networks or communities.

Search Engine Marketing or SEM involves utilization of all Social Networking platforms to brand your product or service website using techniques of effective mechanics and communication to the end user and consumer. By getting your website well-known on all the different social media networks, you are spreading the word about your company to all the search engines as well seeing as they crawl through all those social networks.

Social Media Marketing or SMM is marketing to achieve branding and internet marketing using Social Media or Social Networking. Social Media Marketing would be lost without effective and proven Social Media Optimization. This usually involves a campaign which differs for every business or organization but will build brand awareness, increase visibility and get feedback with dialog to possibly sell a product or service with measured results.

Great research information on adoption of Social Media and the positive outcome. Some small businesses need to see the stats before they become believers. This information came from Media Posts Research Brief.

Social Media Adoption Yields New Customers For Small Businesses

The third wave of the Small Business Success Index, by Network Solutions and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, reports social media adoption by small businesses has doubled from 12% to 24% in the last year. Small businesses are increasingly investing in applications including blogs, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.

Key social media usage highlights (% of respondents)
• 75% surveyed have a company page on a social networking site
• 61% use social media for identifying and attracting new customers
• 57% have built a network through a site like LinkedIn
• 45% expect social media to be profitable in the next twelve months

Dr. Alan Glazier, CEO and Founder of an eye and vision care center, said “… I was forced to consider alternative options to keep my business visible… with a very small investment in social media marketing, I was able to generate new business opportunities… (and) most importantly, my marketing budget has been reduced by more than 80%… ”

61% of the respondents use social media to identify new customers. The biggest expectation small business owners have from social media is expanding external marketing and engagement including identifying and attracting new customers, building brand awareness and staying engaged with customers.

50% of small business social media users say it takes more time than expected. While social media adoption has doubled in the last year, there are still some roadblocks to small businesses fully exploiting its potential. Another 17% feel that social media gives people a chance to criticize their business on the Internet. Related to this, only 6% feel that social media use has hurt the image of the business more than helped it.

Janet Wagner, director of the Center for Excellence in Service at the University of Maryland, says that “Social media levels the playing field for small businesses… ”

Other key findings from the December 2009 Small Business Success Index:

Small businesses experience positive effects from the economic downturn:

• 72% have found ways to operate more efficiently (up significantly from 66% in June)
• 47%have been led to find new products and services that benefit customers
• 43% have become better teams as hard times force people to work together

Building online presence continues to be key focus for small businesses:

• Company Web sites seem to be the top technology investment in the next two years, with small businesses either adding new features/functionality to their existing Web sites or building one from scratch
• The ability to showcase their products and services online to attract new customers is second in the hierarchy of technology investments
• Social media investments rank third in small business investments to be made in the next two years
Customer service the biggest strength of small business owners:
• Small businesses are highly successful at answering customer questions, ensuring customer satisfaction, showing empathy, providing consistent service, resolving problems and winning repeat business
• Four of the six customer service dimensions have gotten stronger compared to a year ago, and one of these, ensuring customer satisfaction, is significantly higher

Connie Steele, Director at Network Solutions, concludes that “… social media can be the best friend for small business owners who constantly seek new ways to maximize productivity while keeping costs low… ”
For additional information about the Small Business Success Index, please go here.

If you want to enjoy the best social media success, there are seven key steps to take to make a profit with social media. Through this article you are provided with an overview of the seven key steps to make a profit with social media. By following the steps you are be on your way to the best social media success.

1. The first step that you need to take when it comes to developing the best social media strategy is identifying those social media outlets that will be most beneficial to you or your business.

2. The next step that you need to take when it comes to developing the best social media strategy is to create a comprehensive social media plan. You do not want to embark on a social media endeavour without a road map.

3. When it comes to the best social media strategy, you will want to consult and visit with other people have been involved with social media in the past. You do not need to reinvent the wheel.

4. The fourth key step you need to understand when it comes to the best social media is the need to make sure you present yourself in the most positive light. Remember, when it comes to social media you are marketing yourself.

5. An when it comes to the best social media, you need to make sure that your up to date on current trends that are associated with this line of communication. Keep in mind the Internet is always changing as is social media.

6. Depending on your own experience of the Internet and with social media you will want to call upon social media experts to assist you in devising the best social media plan possible.

7. Finally, you will want to continually revise your social media strategies to make sure that their up to date and effective. Obviously, if you’re going to be involved in social media you want to achieve your goals in the short rather than a long run.

Author: Sean R Mize
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news

Nicole France with Buzz Sense Media will walk you through step by step how use Ping.fm to update your content on your social media sites. Ping.fm is a valuable tool which will save you time and money.

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