Social Network Strategic Planning

Social network strategic planning can help you both personally and professionally in a variety of ways. Keep reading to find out how to use the Internet to your advantage while having some fun along the way.

Until fairly recently, the term "social networking" applied mainly to teenagers, with their Myspace kingdoms, or classmate reunion sites for members of the older crowd. However, today many social networking sites attract a whole new demographic – businesses and entrepreneurs. Those who would normally be far too busy with face-to-face meetings, and a jam packed schedule full of deadlines and conference calls, are now realizing the importance of social network strategic planning to benefit both themselves and their associates.

Social networking can help bring notoriety to a small business that's just starting out. Myspace allows anyone to create a profile, and many businesses are signing up so that they can have an easily accessible website presence for shoppers to access. The interwoven community of friends and colleagues on the site provide others with the ability to quickly learn about the business from a buddy who already has it added to their network. This generates further viewers for the business profile. One example of a small business furthering their exposure is Nantucket Oils of San Francisco. In a town full of niche businesses and competitive markets, having a Myspace page gives this business a fun advantage.

Facebook has also made it possible for businesses to get noticed. Facebook's fan club feature allows businesses to form a group of "fans." When someone joins, it automatically posts a notice on the Facebook homepage, letting the entire community know about your fan club. One example is the non-profit radio station K-LOVE, which has its own fan group on Facebook. It’s a great way to let others know about a radio station that is nationally syndicated, but could always use a boost to their listener base. To make a fan page, all you need is a Facebook account, and then you’re free to post images, videos, PR messages and anything else you’d like about your business.

Social network strategy can also help an individual in a specific industry. If you’re looking to advance in your industry, a website such as Linked In may be perfect for you. Here, millions of professionals upload basic information about themselves to help get noticed. Everybody knows that getting ahead is all about who you know, and Linked In helps you accelerate that process. Reconnect with old college friends and see where they’ve gone in the business world, or stay linked to an old colleague who has left your workplace for bigger and better things. You never know when a job offer may turn up!

Outside of the professional world, there are other reasons to strategically plan things via cyberspace. If you are planning a big event, either as a volunteer for a charity or just a personal gathering for friends and family, you can use social network platforms to send invitations and advertise the details.

Hobbies are also helped along through social networks. Meetup is a website dedicated to getting people together in a particular region in order to share similar interests. From dance lessons to pet enthusiast groups, you can find a Meet Up group (or start one) in your city or town, and strategically meet new friends and even potential love interests.

Romance is indeed another reason for social networking. Rather than enduring countless awkward blind dates set up by friends and family, you can strategically plan your dating life by posting a profile of yourself on a website that shares your style of life with potential dates. For example, if you love to chat on Yahoo! Messenger and want something simple and effective, you can try Yahoo! Personals to meet someone new. If you’re more selective when it comes to dates, you can use a pay service like eHarmony, which allows you to customize your search more meticulously, and also sends you matches based on your set criteria of 29 extensive categories.

No matter what your reason for creating a social network strategy, the Internet has never been better at helping people find each other on both a personal and professional level. Indulge your curiosity by visiting one of these sites, or any of the others available on the Web.

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