Does anyone get new business from social networks?

[Hendry]

I am talking LinkedIn, Ecademy and Plaxo as well as Facebook, MySpace and the like.

These sites seem to be more about showing others how popular you are rather than turning those contacts to your benefit to help you locate more customers. Anyway have any views to the contrary?

I'd also be interested to hear what anyone thinks these sites lack.

[JamieBeeston]

I get alot of business directly and indirectly from online community sites..

As for Social Engineering sites.. LinkedIn would be the only one of those listed which has advantaged me so far but I dont see them as sales tool really.

J

[Eric Mc]

Yes - including PH.

[becker-ph]

LinkedIn is really useful for finding out background information about people you are about to meet.

Also a lot of recruitment companies trawl through it looking for candidates. Might be something to want or not?

[Nightmare]

lots from pistonheads - diamonds particularly recently and for 2 months of this year it was the second biggest referrer to www.arnywear.co.uk

I get lots of requests for advice from LinkedIn etc....but not much actual business.....

[JamieBeeston]

Nightmare said:

lots from pistonheads - diamonds particularly recently and for 2 months of this year it was the second biggest referrer to www.arnywear.co.uk

I get lots of requests for advice from LinkedIn etc....but not much actual business.....

Mozzy repellent clothes... interesting!

Can't believe no-ones come up with that before!

Damn you and your rich making idea!

[Nightmare]

just wait for the eczema and MRSA/C Diff fabrics from the start of next year!

and told you we need a marketing manager for Arnywear dude....where's your CV?!

[JamieBeeston]

Nightmare said:

just wait for the eczema and MRSA/C Diff fabrics from the start of next year!

and told you we need a marketing manager for Arnywear dude....where's your CV?!

tought you were waiting for the remortgage on the mansion to afford my outlandish salary demands

if it's though now I'll pop by

[ginettag27]

Hendry said:

I am talking LinkedIn, Ecademy and Plaxo as well as Facebook, MySpace and the like.

These sites seem to be more about showing others how popular you are rather than turning those contacts to your benefit to help you locate more customers. Anyway have any views to the contrary?

I'd also be interested to hear what anyone thinks these sites lack.

I haven't but I do think LinkedIn has it's uses.. Ideally you need to build up a _very_ big network though and that does take time and effort. It could also depend on the type of work/role that you are involved in..

[pcowen]

e only really tried PH and with a bit of success including designing the eurohoon brand and www.eurohoon.com site. You have to keep looking for people wanting your advise or services, rather than waiting for an email or phone call PH related.

pcowen
www.stellar-promotions.co.uk

[thepeoplespal]

While I personally haven't benefited (business wise) from social networks that I know of, I have referred business type queries to other friends that I'm happy to trust on networks with the hope that sometime I'll get a good turn back should the need arise some time in the future. I look at it as what can I do for others in my networks rather than what can I get out of them as such. Others will, I hope, reciprocate.

This way of networking sounds less selfish and "me" centred to my mind and is just my thought on how they should work. I've seen others do this on less formal or computerised networks and while it is often a slow burn type of thing, it certainly has its benefits and has led to some very worthwhile and profitable deals that I know of. It's very much a trust thing, not screwing someone, even though it would have been easy to do and no-one would have found out about it, doing a good turn where to can, and what goes around comes around - karma if you like.