Website or facebook

[HR Solutions]

We use FB, Linked In and our website. FB is not as good as Linked In and our website. Personally I think that FB is a waste of time especially in our industry. We advertise a vacancy with specific criteria and get every tom dick and harry sending their cv's thro to us relating to a specific job posting. The do not read the criteria.

[tommyosmena]

For me i think both are affective and it should be use for our businesses because marketing has there

[Blurock]

I still have to meet the engineer or professional that will browse on Facebook to buy products. Facebook is kids stuff, meant for people who suffer from either "I miss my friends" or "look at me now" disorder. Serious business is not done on Facebook or twitter.

[wynn]

"I miss my friends" or "look at me now" disorder.

You forgot FOMO (fear of missing out)

[Blurock]

You forgot FOMO (fear of missing out)

Yes, that is the scientific name.

[Blurock]

Well, how many members of this Forum use its Facebook page, or do we prefer to post here?

FB may have its advantages in certain industries such as hospitality or travel, but like twitter I personally find it a waste of time.

[ians]

I believe that face book or twitter could be a valuable asset, the only problem is it could also work against you, if people don't like your remarks or know a little too much about you it could have a negative impact on you website visits.

I believe any media will work very well if you can be a "nice guy" all the time, but the problem is if you make a slip and your true personality is exposed on face book book or twitter it could make a huge impact on the your website visits.

The problem with social media is you could just be having a really bad day or you word something in a manner which is offensive or someone people just don't know you well enough to know you joke around, it could have serious backlash.

I think if you have a business face book page it is not always a good idea to allow customer access to your personal page.

I am experiencing this problem at the moment, where I have been a naughty boy and speak my mind of things which have happened in the past and instead of just keeping quiet, I have exposed incidents which I don't agree with like cheating on public media and it has backfired on me, I have found people don't mind skinnering behind peoples back but when they get put in the spot light they hide like cowards or then turn the attention on the person who is now in the spot light and forget all about the person who they were just skinnering about.

In conclusion, keep your opinions to yourself, support your the local rugby team, offer free advice, and most important think very carefully before you press enter, if you do this I believe all public media could be a huge asset to your business.

[Blurock]

If I need a plumber or an electrician, will I search on the web or on facebook? I will also look at my local community newspaper, but preferably I would ask the neighbours for a recommendation.

[workshop]

They all work but it's the guy doing the cooking that makes the difference. The balance between each, complementing the different inputs and understanding how much weight to place where. The web is as powerful as it is diverse and the one thing that is still in short supply, that is missing, is that personal interface.

...... but preferably I would ask the neighbours for a recommendation.

This is what we are looking for and don't get from Facebook, Linked In and even Google. And the question I always want to ask but am ignoring, is how relevant is mobi? Maybe I shouldn't. But how does one decide? And I believe the best policy is to wait for the dust to settle and then figure out what should, by then, be obvious.

A web site is an essential business tool and you have to make sure Google knows where to find you. But it is not a stand-alone solution. It is a fishing float that bobs on the water until you take your eye off it. Look at it as just some more sign writing that you have to do, a shop frontage. Keep it current, use it but temper your expectations and understand you want to get to a point where you do as little as possible as often as possible. Advertise in your papers and use your web site to say everything you don't want to pay for in print.

You would be crazy not to use Facebook but it's value is limited. It's a glorified dating site and you have to figure out how involved you get. Find that one in a thousand profile who has the personality to draw the audience you are looking for and hang on to their coat tails. Most of us don't do aimless banter well, so cut what you do, to what you do well and recognise that the chances are, that you are going to waste more time than you should. Linked In is better for business but once again I find it directionless and Twitter is beyond my reach.

What you want to do in your spare time, when you are waiting for clients to call, is to secure leads. Leads are the life blood of any business. They have a value. So whilst you are hustling for the business that will keep food on your table think about spreading your net a bit further. This is what the web allows you to do. Ask yourself who is in a position to feed you business referrals and whilst you are trawling for customers you can service, see if you can't hook a few for them. These you can use to trade. And if it works you might find that it becomes a career changer.

The web with all it's different twists and turns is as fascinating as it is challenging.

[joya]

Hi Ians,
You should join social media sites like twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook.. these sites are helpful for your business promoting.