Karl Rove uses Twitter but admitted it is tough to optimize. Learning how to use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twiiter, MySpace, or any other new Web 2.0 software effectively is like trying to program the old VCR – it will make life easier but it's too hard to learn. And, that's the case here. Beyond creating a log-on and accepting invites by others – most of us are stuck. And, yet these e-networks and connectivity sites have become essential tools for businesses stay competitive.
Nathan Egan, who holds an MBA from Villanova University’s School Of Business and spent the last year working for LinkedIn, believes every company needs to understand how Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other Web 2.0 platforms can help businesses build credibility, drive sales, lower operating costs, and increase brand equity. Egan says static web sites aren’t enough anymore – every business must integrate with these communities and systems to be here, there and everywhere. Web 2.0 online connectivity tools are the only way to make that happen.
As a result of this phenomena which is here to stay -- Nathan Egan was recently hired by Value Prop Interactive to build out their Social Media Strategy consulting & training practice. According to Egan “We help businesses and individual professionals develop the strategies and skills necessary to effectively leverage these new platforms across a broad spectrum of different business applications… from marketing and business development to talent acquisition and resource management and everything in between.”
Below are his five reasons why every business needs to learn to optimize the new PR of today for tomorrow:
1. They are free! Yep, nearly all social programming is available at no cost to the user. Egan coined the phrase “freesourcing” to describe the act of leveraging free web-based resources for your business.?
2. Easy to learn the basics but if you are too busy to figure out the advanced stuff or want it customized for your business, find a service that can show you through webinars, conference calls or online tutorials. Take this seriously, it is your business.
3. Recognize that your connectivity in cyberspace is your virtual real estate and it is accessible by the world 24x7. Strategic use can help build your equity overnight while poor use can be a liability.
4. Stay ahead of your competitors. Read as much as possible about how other businesses are using social media and Web 2.0 technology – be creative and think outside the box to apply their usage back to your own business even if it seems completely unrelated. Everyday new and valuable ideas for using these tools are created.?
5. Participation brings ROI. Get involved! Don’t just join or sign-up and hope that it will do something for you. Built into the word network is the word “work.”
Links to recommended social networking sites:
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace.
Comments
Nathan brings up some great points. As someone who works closely with SMB's, this is a great way to get increased online visiblity for nothing more than a little sweat equity.
I think Nathan has hit on something very viable.
We are finding that the vehicles we were using for PR two years ago aren't working or quite frankly don't even exist anymore (ie:certain magazines that have recently folded) We are also finding that the editors of print media formats that we are attempting to solicit are using twitter, my space, etc.... to keep them self in the loop as opposed to the old fashioned way.
Nathan just validated why businesses need to not only encourage its best assets to evangelize their company offerings on their personal profiles but also why a company's brand manager needs to leverage these websites.
Nathan has some great points. This is a good article and should be a wake up call, especially for large companies. The Fortune 500 continually ignore new marketing strategies and think the old ways will keep working.
Topics mentioned are a culture shift in PR-from PR being a corporate element to being an element for every-body (i.e.--individual people, even though they may work for a corporation who uses PR).
Getting in the front of the individual's pack can change how you are perceived as a professional.
Taking time to do it for yourself is a question of personal investment, similar to taking the time to workout.
What is the investment you are willing to make for the outcome you intend to achieve?
web 2.0 technology has great potential.
Nathan's vision to use this type of technology will be helpful for many types of people and companies.
I never managed to figure out how to program my VCR (so I threw it away) but with Nathan's support I have learned to leverage freesourcing to cost effectively build my business.
Nathan brings a highly creative mind to the distinction of 'freesourcing' and the potential of web 2.0. He was instumental in helping Velocity 1 LLC cobble together multiple web 2.0 media to create a powerful and interactive 24/7 presence in a niche enterprise. Our experience tells us that heeding Nathan's insight into the future of social networking will serve business enterprises well.
In this economy the word "free" always piques interest. Nathan has incredible patience in explaining Web 2.0 and social media to the Luddites of the world.
Nathan plainly points out that just "being there" is easier - and more critical than ever. And it may, in and of itself, not be sufficient. You must proactively work at it to truly reap the benefits. That we are in the midst of a societal shift in communication and interaction is undeniable.
twitter linkedin & corporate behavior
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