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Social Networking is growing at a rapid pace and that is why it is important for most businesses to use this tool for marketing.  It creates so much awareness, it’s astounding, and here is a list the top 7 Social Networking sites with a brief description and their relevance to spreading your word!

#1 LinkedIn - Relationships Matter

LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries.  You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals.

You can meet people in your area and in your industry, get recommendations from clients (which will help boost the level of trust in a clients), read articles from the community, and post your own articles for exposure in your niche.  The great thing about LinkedIn is that they have applications that can be added to your profile.  My favorite is Blog Link.  You set the options to point to your blog on your website, and Blog Link automatically updates and displays your latest blogs’ links on your LinkedIn profile.  SEO people!

#2 Biznik - Going it alone, together

Biznik isn’t another LinkedIn clone.  Biznik is for people who are building real businesses, not looking for their next job.  It’s for sharing your ideas, not posting your resume.  It’s the place where real conversations about small business and entrepreneurship are taking place.  Biznik is similar to LinkedIn in a sense that you can create a business profile and create more exposure for your business, but you are able to deal with the community in your area, or where you want to, on a more personal level.  Again, you can find clients, meet with others in your niche, and read/post articles.  My favorite thing about Biznik is their articles and how you can sync your Twitter updates on your profile.

#3 Facebook

Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them.  People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, post links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.  I think 90% of the population has a Facebook account.  It is so popular and such a sweet tool to connect with friends and family.  But, did you know that you can create business profiles with it? This is a great way to connect with followers.

#4 E.Factor

E.Factor” stands for “The Entrepreneur Factor” and represents a vibrant online community and virtual marketplace designed for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneurs love E.Factor.com because it’s a place where they can focus exclusively on making business connections, negotiating deals, exchanging information, and advertising their products and services.  Comprised of businesspeople and investors across an array of industries around the globe, the E.Factor community is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to increase their brand exposure, establish a network of high quality contacts, and acquire the funding needed to take their enterprise to the next level.  This is another business profile networking tool like LinkedIn and Biznik.

#5 Twitter

Twitter is a text-based, micro-blogging tool that you can send and receive messages.  You’ve heard of people tweeting before.  If you haven’t, well… now you have!  Many businesses use Twitter—because it is successful!  I tweet and get tweets all day every day.  I stay on the up ‘n up for what is current in entrepreneurship, business, graphic design, logo design, web design, typography, tutorials, ideas.  Everything.  It’s fantastic, I cannot say enough about it.

#6 Startup Nation - By Entrepreneurs, For Entrepreneurs

Startup Nation is your one-stop shop for entrepreneurial success and is one of the leading online content and community resources for entrepreneurs.  It’s our belief that everyone can —and should—own a business, whether full-time or part-time.  Our mission is to help you do just that!  Inside our site, you’ll find all the easy-to-follow, practical information you could ever need to start and grow your own successful business.  Great resources for opening your own business and to gain more exposure by creating your own business profile. 

#7 Behance

Behance is a gallery of creative portfolios, projects, and collaborations.  It is a new platform for the creative professional community.  Along with the normal profile of you, the designer, you can get constructive criticism, thumbs up, thumbs down, and comments on the items in your portfolio.  

Here is a list of some other Social tools I use.

• Reddit – Upload stories and articles and creating a profile.
• Digg – Submit websites articles to stay updated in many different subjects.
• Del.icio.us – Upload all of your internet favorites, making them public or private.

Let me know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.
Write David W. Weatherholt at david@bnewsviews.com

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