Sacramento Media Unlimited

You have seen them all over the web, these cute little icons on the bottom of websites that tempt you to bookmark or share with others what you are looking at or reading.

What are those icons?

Should you click them?

Why are they getting so popular?

What are those things?

These icons are a social networking tool used to quickly link, share or bookmark the site you are viewing.

The hot new trend in the web world is social networking through media, blogs and bookmarking sites. Through the use of social networking, the web is rapidly changing.  More than ever, people can use these network sites to connect with friends and business partners or start new relationships.  Through social networking, one has the ability to connect to those who share the same interests or business needs. Just a few years ago, getting in touch with your peers and professional counterparts involved spending an enormous amount of time searching through unknown Internet forums and stabbing in the “cyber-dark”!

The popular MySpace helped morph the face of the Internet into a social arena. MySpace and Facebook helped popularize the concept of social networking by creating free software programs that could easily be managed by novice users.  Today, there are hundreds of social networking sites that cater to your individual needs.

Should you or shouldn’t you?

As a business owner myself, I understand the value of time.  Imagining what might not get accomplished due to time lost through casual conversation sends deep, anxious shivers down my spine.  As a result I have discovered the many benefits of using social networking as a way of actually gaining back time.

Here are a few reasons:

1. Clients need to find you – The Internet is getting bigger, and your client’s choices are growing. Talking about who you are, what you do, and why you are the best, can be a method to introduce yourself to new clients who might not have ever found you.
2. A little help from some friends – Once you get people to start linking to your website on Digg, Delicious, or Stumble Upon, your Internet presence can dramatically increase.
3. Social networking is good for web traffic – The more your website is linked on other websites, the more people might click and visit your website, especially if you regularly have new content or a blog.
4. It makes you smarter - Getting social with sites like Mixx, Stumble Upon, and Reddit, will enhance your knowledge base regarding what your industry is doing as well as your competition.  You can even join a network in Linked In that is tailored for your organization.
5. It generates more revenue – Blogging, emailing, and posting with those who have the same interests at sites like Linked In, Naymz, Xing and even Twitter, will bring you more opportunities to network.  A blog is a great place to start.  You can start a blog easily, for free, with Wordpress or Blogger. For a more customized look with your own domain name, you can have your friendly website designer work it into your organization’s website.
6. Social networking builds relationships – With a little effort, you will be surprised at how quickly you can create relationships with people who you might not have met otherwise.  Social networking will help strengthen and maintain your current business relationships.

Why are they popular?

The easy answer to why social networking is popular is that it works! It works to increase your professional and personal network, increase your web traffic and revenue, and is just plain fun and entertaining. Most of all, it is easy to use. With a few exceptions, social networking is free and requires minimal computer knowledge to maintain.

Give social networking a try! My advice is you start small so as to not get overwhelmed. You might find that one social network is all you need. Here is a list of some popular social network sites .

Delicious, Facebook, Digg, Delicious, Mixx, Twitter, Flickr, Linked In, Yelp, Wordpress, Blogger

And, if you would not mind, share this blog with your friends by clicking the “Share This” icon on the bottom of this post! 

Congratulations to our President-elect, Barack Obama!

Whether you voted for him or not, one thing can be said… he ran a fantastic and successful campaign.  He demonstrated to people, that even though he might not have a lot of “Washington Experience,”  he can make it up with his management skills.  He was prepared on every level to succeed.  Anything that the Republican party, media, or independents threw at him, he was prepared with a statement or plan.

As you probably already know, the stock market sank today because of the uncertainty of the new Democratic President and his economic policy.

(It must be noted, that a Democrat being elected usually causes the stock market to fall, but today was a bit different. Let me explain)

It was different, because our economy is already in an unstable position.  One would think, that by electing a new charismatic President who claimed to run on change and where the popular and delegate vote was high, the stock market might have a positive outlook of the future.  Not so…as far as today is concerned.

As our economy seems a bit uncertain, I would like to share my thoughts on the future of commerce on the Internet. (eCommerce)

I believe the Internet, and more specifically, eCommerce, will be a major factor in solving our economic woes.  I feel and know, without a doubt, that those organizations that advertise and invest in Internet marketing will be more successful than those who do not. And those organizations with websites that are well built and maintained will have even more success than those who do nothing with their websites.

Now is the time to prepare your website.  Right now!

It makes sense.  Advertising will bring people to your business better than just hope and luck, or even word of mouth.  Invest in some pay-per-click advertising, or localized search engine placement, and test the waters of eCommerce.  You will most likely  be pleasantly surprised.

Look at your website today.

Does it need to be updated?  Is the site untouched or older than three years?  Does it need an overhaul or a just a quick nip and tuck?

Call me, and lets get prepared to succeed!