It’s no secret that the fastest growing web properties are the social networking sites. Sites like Twitter, FaceBook, and Sokule are all the rave.
Part of the reason that these sites are so popular is that the Internet can be such a lonely place. People who run online businesses from home-based offices, as I do, sometimes want to just reach out to others who understand their world. So they drop by social networking sites “just to visit.”
Marketers like me look at these sites with millions of users and wonder if they can’t be used for something more than just socializing. We wonder if they can’t have a business application as well.
Social networking purist will scream “NO.” They will insist that you definitely should not sell on these sites. Others teach that you use these sites to build your brand, but lure people off these sites to your marketing site and into your sales funnel.
To those who wonder, “Can’t I market while still being social?” my answer is “yes.” The key is to do it in ways that feel natural (inoffensive) and in places where it’s expected.
Let me give you two quick examples:
1) Many people on sites like Twitter and Facebook are constantly pointing out online videos to their friends. They notice videos on video-sharing sites such as YouTube that are inspirational, touching, or thought provoking, and they want to share them with their friends. They see music videos of their favorite songs, or maybe really sexy videos, and it’s natural to share these with online friends that they know have similar interests.
What most people don’t know is that there are many ways that they can get paid just by pointing out videos to their friends. I personally do this using the system at: http://GetPaidToShareVideos.com This system pay Google AdSense revenue, plus pays you in other ways just for doing something that you already do.
2) Jane Mark and Phil Basten noticed how popular Twitter was becoming, but also that Twitter wasn’t designed for marketing. So they created a site very similar to Twitter, only it’s set up to encourage you to market.
Key differences include that it allows members to add up to five links to their favorite sites, it allows members to add their Clickbank ID and display ads for Clickbank product on which they passively earn commission, and it allows members to earn a commission when free members upgrade to membership levels that make more tools available.
This site is called Sokule (pronounced “so cool”), and it is also set up to make it easier to gather a lot of followers. I have often told my students that they should not think of their Twitter following as a list – because they are not “a list.” However, on Sokule, you can think of them as a list. Sokule is actually configured so that some levels of membership actually allow you to send a direct message to ALL of your followers.
You are only allowed to send a direct message to all of your followers once every three days, but that does make building a following much like building a mailing list on the platform. When you set up your Sokule account, you enter three areas of interest. Those following you can find you by searching the database for others interested in the same topics that they are interested in.
Presumably, those following you are interested in the same topics and would therefore welcome direct messages from you periodically. If not, they can always stop following you, just as they can on Twitter.
You can see how I’ve set up my Sokule profile page at: http://Sokule.com/postit/williec
These are just two quick example of how you can get paid for doing thing that you are already doing on the social networking sites. As you can see though, the key is knowing which sites to use.
It is possible to earn more than many “Internet marketers” earn selling affiliate products, just by “being social.”
Check out the two sites above today, and I’ll share other with you in future articles.
Article previously published here.
…
Willie Crawford is one of the world’s leading Internet marketing authorities, and an in-demand joint venture broker. Most of his mentoring is done in a group setting on the member-only discussion forum at: http://TheInternetMarkeingInnerCircle.com/ Join that
discussion to experience phenomenal business growth.
Read more articles written by Willie Crawford
Related posts:
- Almost There – YouTube and Social Networking
Innovation doesn’t wait for anybody. It’s a constant, vital force, thriving on new ideas, new interpretations of old ideas, and a deep desire to understand the next important step. This generation has been defined by its technological advances, and the creation of a global society on the Web. This society... - How Proactive Networking Can Dramatically Boost Your Business
Dear Friend, Do you know why most people fail at marketing anything on the Internet? Even though the products or services they are trying to sell are awesome? Regardless of your present level of success, pause for a minute and try to find out the #1 reason for failure so... - Offline Networking: Does it Really Matter to Us Internet Marketers?
One of the most common mistakes that Internet marketers make is to assume that every last thing they do must be online. Wrong! Offline networking can be a very helpful resources when it comes to building your online empire. Here are some examples of how devoting some time to networking... - A Comparison of Paid Search Advertising Models
As webmasters, we are all chasing customers. We are looking for human visitors to come to our websites and to buy what we are selling. To serve our needs for targeted traffic — potential customers — the search companies have begun to offer us a share of their significant traffic... - Networking Tips For Business And Career Success
Being a business leader is hard work, and then there is always the stress of keeping the various aspects of a business moving in a positive direction. Having the right people to turn to in times of need is always an important consideration for business owners and managers. Networking has... - How To Out-Socialize The Gurus On Twitter And Other Social Media
Social media has long been touted as the latest and greatest Internet marketing tool that will bring new people to any online business seeking new customers… For most online marketers, the social media environment appears over-hyped and ineffective… Between Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and Delicious, online marketers waste plenty... - Get Paid Like An Expert By Developing A USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
Want to get paid more for doing the same amount of work? Simply develop a USP to get paid like an expert. Here is how you make more money now… Developing a USP (unique selling proposition) is your unique way of positioning yourself. Your unique selling position is vital if... - Social Media Marketing: How It Can Work for You
With so many things to consider when starting out online in the business world, SMM or Social Media Marketing can be one of the most important. This is a term that is used to describe how participating in differing online social groups can help a business generate traffic to their... - Social Media Marketing – Don
The Cluetrain Manifesto asserts that “Markets are Conversations.” The Manifesto is a document published in 1999 and 10 years later is still considered to be an outstanding treatise on the Internet phenomenon – in regards to the impact and opportunities of Internet and web technology on the modern businessman. Nowhere... - Social Marketing: Not Nearly As Awful As I Feared
I have to admit I’ve been slow to jump on board with the whole social marketing trend. After so many years spent in marketing and frequently hearing about the “next big thing”, I’ve come to the decision that all these technologies are simply communication tools for building trusting relationships with... - Etiquette for Social Media Sites and Blogs
Social media is social. Social, an adjective that one definition gives as pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club. That’s what social network sites are – social clubs. Where people with the same interests get together and learn, teach, grow, and bond. Hopefully... - The Big Picture Of Pursuing A Career As A Microsoft Networking Administrator
Pursuing a career as a Microsoft Networking Administrator can be both rewarding and challenging. There is a lot to learn in preparation for your career in this field, and you must be willing to upgrade those skills every few years in order to stay up-to-date on these ever-changing technologies. Fortunately,... - Social Media Management – Setting Your Sights on the Right Sites
One of the most amazing features about the Web is that it allows many people to take advantage of features they did not originate. Livejournal, Twitter, Digg, Reddit and each of the many other Social Media sites were proposed and implemented with a relatively small cadre of people, yet thousands... - Online Brand Marketing – 4 Ways to Use Social Media in Promotions
Social media marketing has earned its place as one of the fastest-growing, most competitive marketing fields in the history of advertising. People are gathering online in record numbers, finding and socializing in groups that cater to their interests; often, these interests neatly intersect with marketing and branding opportunities. The best... - Social Media Marketing Agencies
Experts exist for a reason. For example, there are many tasks the average car owner can perform on their own with a little practice; they maybe can change the oil, replace brake pads, tune a few elements. But in many cases it’s far more efficient and effective to let an...