Launching a public relations campaign can be confronting. Many people are uncomfortable and resist the mere thought of launching a PR campaign. As one client explained to me, he didn’t want to do interviews, he didn’t want to be a star; he simply wanted his business to be successful. I understood exactly what he meant. His focus was on his business, on the bottom line, and being featured in a newspaper or on a TV segment didn’t mean much to him, unless it affected the bottom line. But there was also something else going on. He was shy and embarrassed and being interviewed, or sitting in front of a TV camera, scared the heck out of him. If you feel that way, ask yourself what you’re willing to do to be successful. Are you willing to utilize the most powerful marketing tool available? Are you willing to take risks, utilize the magic of the media, and give your business a real chance for success?

If your response is yes, remember very few people are naturals when it comes to the media. It’s a skill and one that can be learned. I generally suggest that people take at least a couple of hours of media training before launching a campaign. It helps you focus, helps you relax and shows you how to tell your story in the most comfortable, organic way possible. It also teaches you how to meet the media’s needs as well as your own. Our trainer is Ann Convery, she has prepared clients for interviews in a wide range of media outlets from Oprah and 60 Minutes to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Her specialty is helping you refine and condense your story. She teaches people how to present themselves as experts in their field in a relaxed effective manner. Her focus is on showing you how to present yourself not as a celebrity, but as an authority.

Effective media placement isn’t about wanting to be a star or wanting to appear on the media – it’s about success. It truly is about the bottom line.

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Social Networking has surely taken off these past few years. Seems like everyone and their dog is now posting, poking, tweeting, liking, status-updating, and more. The problem is that dogs might actually demonstrate better social networking etiquette than many business people. Unlike casual communication with friends, social networking for business requires care, because barking up the wrong tree could damage your credibility.

Here are 9 common faux “paws”:

(1) Inviting people to be friends/contacts without customizing the request message.

“I would like to add you to my network. – Joe”

What people are thinking: Joe? Joe who? Do we know each other? Does Joe really want to connect with me or is he just using some automated referral or mass contact function to expand his network? And, if I agree to connect, is he going to try to sell me something or ask me for a job? I don’t feel good about this guy.

(2) Joining a group and crassly posting about yourself and what you do.

“Hi, I’m Joe. I sell red widgets. They are the greatest red widgets. Nice to meet you. Want to buy some red widgets? I sell red widgets – here is a huge list of what we offer [insert huge list here]. I can’t wait to contribute to this group.”

What people are thinking: So, Joe sells red widgets. I could have found that out by clicking to see his profile, if I was inclined to do so, but instead he is forcing me to read his profile. Does he actually expect me to read all that? I’m sure the only thing he will be contributing to this group is information about his red widgets. I’m not even interested in red widgets.

(3) Posting a reply to a question when you don’t have a good answer.

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Speaking (either at other people’s events or your own) is a great way to build your business. Not only is it a good way to showcase what you do, but it also builds awareness of your business and increases your reputation. You can also sell from the back of the room or collect the names and contact details of the people you’re speaking to, to contact them later. 

But how do you get started on the speaking circuit? 

Well, the first thing you need to do is to start attending the events that you’d like to speak at. Before you approach the organisers, you’ll need to go along, find out what happens at the event and get to know the format. Once you’re comfortable with knowing what goes on, then you can talk to the organisers and ask them if you can speak. 

Now most events are desperate for good quality speakers, so if you ask nicely and they have regular speakers at the event, chances are they’ll snap you up. You might not been speaking for a while if they already have speakers for some of their events, but once you’re in the diary, your first task is accomplished. 

Don’t forget to contact the organiser and send them over some information about your business plus a photo so that they can promote the event for you. Check where the venue is and what equipment will be available. 

Nearer the time, your next job will be to prepare for your talk. At this point, it’s vital that you think about what your objective is for your talk. Is it to share your expertise; gather contacts or sell at the event?  

One of the reasons why people are disappointed by the lack of customers they get following a speaking event is that they don’t have any objective in mind for speaking – if you know what you want to get out of it and try to accomplish that goal when you speak, you’ll be much more likely to get the results you’re looking for. 

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Over the last few years, I’ve spoken and written in depth about following up with people and why I really do think that it is the most important marketing technique that you can do. 

But, I still see business owners struggling with following up with people. Case in point, I was speaking to a contact of mine who was a member of a networking group. He told me that every week he was giving potential leads to follow up with and dutifully sent them all an email. Now, he was wondering why he wasn’t getting business… 

OK…there are essentially three ways that you can follow up with people – by phone, by email or by face to face appointments. When should you use which method? 

Following up by phone
You should use phone to follow up with people when there has been some form of personal contact. This includes when you’ve met someone at a networking event and they’ve suggested that you meet for a further conversation; when you’ve sent them a proposal or a quote for some work; when someone has recommended someone to you. You’re not going to get the results you want if you follow up by email in these circumstances. 

Following up by email
I always see email as a back-up for personal conversations, not as a substitute. So you should use email to follow up with people when you’ve phoned someone, but can’t get in contact with them; when you’ve briefly met someone at a networking event and want to arrange a more detailed conversation with them or when you’re following up with a bulk of people for instance to send them a newsletter. 

Following up by face to face
I’ve left face to face follow up until last because obviously, it’s the most time consuming of the three. Yet, it still has a place when we need to follow up with people.

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Networking is all about building relationships…and it’s no different when networking with the media.  You are never trying to sell anything – you are simply getting to know the other person. 

By getting to know your local media contacts in print, online, and on television and radio you can be top of mind when they’re looking for an expert source in your industry for their stories.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Develop a Relationship: Ask about their personal interests, family, hobbies, etc. and share your personal interests.  Then let them know about your expertise in other areas so they can call you as a source for other articles.

Invite the Media: Send the media invitations and tickets to your events.  If your budget can handle it invite them along to certain events as your guest or at a greatly reduced rate.  Recognize that quality news media people are sensitive to being bought.  Your invitation does not entitle you to cheery coverage if something goes sour.

Be Flexible:  Be willing to work with the media.  They may have a different concept about profiling your business than you do and go with it.  They are not giving you a free advertisement – they have their audience in mind. 

Tight Deadlines: Remember that reporters and editors are busy and are nearly always pressed for time.  Appeal to their need to save time. Give them what they need in the form they need it.  Anticipate their questions and have appropriate answers ready. Be available, easily reached, and completely prepared for comment.

Remember the Story: Journalists need a story, not a sales pitch, so determine the best way for your company to be part of a bigger story that affects your community or the nation.

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Behind Door No. 1 are one dozen warm leads. Behind Door No. 2 are three times as many cold suspects. Which door would you want to open? I’m sure you said Door No. 1. But what if in order to gain access to the leads behind Door No. 1, you have to ask someone to refer you to them first? Which door would you open now? Regrettably, for too many salespeople and business owners, the answer to the second, qualified question is not an automatic “Door No. 1.” When it comes to asking people for referrals, they suddenly shrink away from the opportunity.

This seems to fly in the face of logic. The benefits of asking for referrals are obvious. Because you are being introduced by a trusted intermediary, you have immediate credibility. You avoid having to spend time (a) identifying the appropriate person in an organization and (b) placing multiple calls trying to reach that person, to whom you are an unknown quantity.

So why, then, are many of us reluctant to ask for referrals? Curious to know, I’ve asked several people. Here is a sampling of the responses I got:

• “The client paid us and I got my commission. I don’t feel I have the right to ask for anything else.”
• “I feel like I’m imposing on people.”
• “I’d like to, but I don’t know how to do so tactfully.”

As you can see, these are emotional reasons. They are all reasonable, but the fact remains that these people are missing out on the tremendous benefits provided by referrals. So how do they — and you — get past these concerns? To begin, you may need to get out of your own way. Here’s a three-step process for doing so.

Question your beliefs. Ask yourself, “Why do I feel this way when so many other people clearly don’t?

Play out a referral-asking scenario in your mind. What’s the worst that could happen? Will the new client cancel his order?

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I’m sure by now that you have established your sales targets for next year. If you haven’t I suggest that you get cracking and do it now. Time is slipping past! If you have set your targets, congratulations! Here are 10 things you can do to achieve those goals.

1.     Invest time prospecting for NEW business every week. Most salespeople rely on existing clients to generate their sales. Allot a specific amount of time to look for new business opportunities whether it’s within a current account or a completely new company. How much time are you prepared to commit to prospecting for new business?

2.     Expand your reach. I know a VP of Sales who regularly gets his team together to brainstorm new industries they can target for their products. This helps his company consistently exceed their sales goals. What new industries or vertical markets can you target?

3.     Improve your value proposition. Forget the tired approach of “Here’s what we do and here’s the awards we’ve won.” What RESULTS do you help companies achieve? Focus on developing a 30 second pitch on this and make sure it is focused on your prospect, not your company. How can you improve your value proposition?

4.     Improve your questioning skills. Most sales people think they ask good questions but in fact, they don’t. Learn how to ask high-value, high-impact questions that make your prospects think and that differentiate you from your competitors. It may sound easy but it isn’t. It requires forethought and courage to ask. What new questions can you start asking?

5.     Ask for referrals. I know, I know. You’ve heard this before. So have I.

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When it comes to face-to-face networking, you should focus on two varieties:

1. Attending meetings or events where you will likely find your target market.
2. Attending meetings or events where you will likely build your Bridges of Influence.

There is a good chance that you already know who your target market is and that you are already attending networking events to find that target market (if not, check out my marketing resources at SkillPreneur.com). Though, many business owners who I work with fail to pay attention to events where they will find people who can be their Bridges of Influence.

Your Bridges of Influence are different than your target market. These are the people who won’t be buying your products and services, but they know the people who will. For example, if you are an interior designer, your Bridges of Influence could include realtors, home builders, and contractors. These are the groups of people who have direct contact with the home owners who can benefit from your service.

Your Bridges of Influence are the people who can create a connection between you and your target market by endorsing your credibility. They provide an introduction between you and your prospects, and help you initiate a relationship that builds trust quickly.

To foster relationships with your Bridges of Influence, start by locating them. Figure out where they congregate, the meetings and events they attend, and attend those meetings (or be a speaker at those meetings).

Take Action

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In this age of business scandals, it’s crucial to remember that businesses based on ethics and quality actually work better. With that in mind, here are ten easy resolutions to inspire your business to achieve a very profitable 2008.

1. I will base every aspect of my business on honesty, integrity, and quality.

2. I will make sure every employee, from janitor to CEO, is trained to view every interaction with a customer as a key step in the marketing process, and to always give the customer respect and
attention.

3. I will train and empower every employee to let the customer go away feeling good about the entire interaction.

4. I will stand behind my products and services. It is better to refund the money and create a positive buzz.

5. Understanding that it costs an average of five times more to bring in a new customer as to keep an existing one, I will see that the entire organization exceeds customer expectations.

6. Recognizing that my competitors can be my strongest allies, I will initiate at least one joint venture (after all, if FedEx and the Postal Service, Apple and IBM, and General Motors and Toyota can cooperate, surely I can too).

7. If my company is not the best answer to prospect’s needs, I will refer that prospect to the company that can best serve.

8. I will devote business resources to make the world a better place.

9. I will volunteer on a community project, and set up incentives for my employees to volunteer on the projects of their choice.

10. I will base decisions on the Abundance Principle that there is enough to go around, and not on market share.

11. I will reduce my firm’s use of water and energy, and reduce my family’s use at home, and inform others of the easy changes I’ve made.

12.

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Figure 1 – “Look, I’m all about loyalty. In fact, I feel like part of what I’m being paid for here is my loyalty. But if there were somewhere else that valued loyalty more highly, I’m going wherever they value loyalty the most.” – Dwight Schrute – The Office, ABC-TV

Seriously… Tim Berners-Lee had no idea how huge his concoction was going to be when he first unleashed the Web on the world. Like the Internet itself, all he wanted to do was make it possible for researchers to share/update information with other researchers. Somewhere along the way, it got “a little” outta’ hand! Well, not really. There’s just a little chasm between boomers, Gen Xers, Gen Yers.

There’s also a little chasm between C-level execs, marketing/communications, workers. There’s little to no chasm between work and home. In “the company”:

• 93% own a cellphone, compared to 78% of industrial country adults
• 85% have a desktop computer, compared to 65% of all adults
• 61% own a laptop, compared to 39% of all adults
• 27% own a Blackberry, iPhone or similar device, compared to 13% of all adults

For the most part, all generations, work levels agree that these and other technologies have had a positive effect on their productivity.

Figure 2 – Technology Helps – Regardless of the generation, company personnel feel that today’s advanced technology has helped them become more productive in their jobs. Source – Kelly Services

They use their computers, use email and most even use an Internet browser. The majority (90%) believes the new technology; new software helps them perform better, faster. C-level executives see the social networking tools as a means of achieving marketing/sales success, but don’t think it’s for use by everyone.

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How many business cards have you gathered since you’ve been in business? I’ve seen business owners with hundreds if not thousands of business cards stored in card boxes, in jacket pockets, stapled to diaries and contact details scribbled on bits of paper. 

Are you the same? Do you have hundreds of business cards lying around in various places?  

I’d like you to ask yourself a question…how effective are these business cards for you at the moment? 

A few years ago, I was in the same situation. I had piles of business cards. In fact, I remember I had to go out and buy two more business card boxes because I just did not have the space to hold them all. 

But I didn’t actually do anything with them. They were just sat there looking at me.  

Occasionally, if someone asked me for some contact details, I’d go through them quickly to find the right person, but rarely found the card I was looking for. 

Then I began to realise the power of contacting past contacts and it dawned on me that I would actually need to do something about my business cards. So, I painstakingly sat there and typed them all out onto a database on excel. 

Just putting these contacts somewhere made it possible for me to do something with them. For instance, I could: 

• Touch base with these contacts to find out how they were getting on.
• Make notes and colour code excel to show what was happening with each person.
• Find people quickly and easily.
• Produce reports and statistics if I needed to. 

The most important difference though was that I was able to follow up with people and start to build a relationship with them. Because I could touch base with people properly, I found it had a dramatic difference on my business and got me new customers. 

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About 6 months after I started in business, I remember attending a sales course. I had one specific question and to my utter frustration, it wasn’t answered on this course. You see, I had been attending a lot of networking events and the favourite question there is “so, what do you do?” 

My problem was that I didn’t know how to explain what I did so that everyone quickly and easily understands and wants to know more. 

I eventually overcame this problem, through reading books and attending more courses and of course, practice. But I hope my tips in this article can help you overcome this quicker than I did. 

Let’s start by looking at what happens what someone asks you what you do.  

Most people (if we’re truly honest about this) don’t care about what YOU do. They only care about what their business does. However, they have to ask this question because 1) they’re being polite and 2) they want to find out if you’re a potential customer for them.  

And once they leave the networking event, they’ll go back to thinking about what’s for dinner, or when they need to pick the kids up or their next meeting.  

So, the only way what you say to them is going to stick in their head is if you talk about THEM. Agreed? 

Now, the next time you go to a networking event, just pay attention to what people say. It will usually go something along these lines “I do this….”; “in my business, we do…” etc. All most business owners talk about is THEMSELVES. 

But, as we’ve just established above, the person who you’re talking to doesn’t care about YOU. They care about themselves too. So, when you’re talking to them, you have to only care about THEM as well. 

How do you do this? Well, start by writing down on some paper, all the common issues, problems and frustrations that your customers face.

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Many people make the mistake of thinking that networking is something that only people who work in sales need to worry about. Even though this is a common misconception, the fact is that it just is not true. No matter what line of work you are in, it’s important to cultivate relationships with likeminded professionals that you can help, and who may also be of assistance to you at some point in your career.

How Can Networking Benefit You?

Referrals: Many business and employment opportunities are passed via referral. When you need a new contact, don’t you ask people you know and trust for referrals? You’re not the only one. It’s human nature to seek out those that our friends and colleagues speak highly of rather than people that are unfamiliar to us and to the people we trust.

Resources: There are going to be times that you need to find people to help you locate resources or assist you with projects. It’s much easier to reach out and ask for help when you have existing relationships with people who can assist you, or who know people who can. If you’ve demonstrated a willingness to help others, there’s a much greater chance you’ll be able to find people to pitch in when you need them to.

Reputation: No matter what type of business you are in, having a good reputation will serve you well throughout your career. When you cultivate a strong network of people who know the quality of your work (assuming it is good), your reputation will benefit. Make sure that people come to recognize you as someone who can be counted on to follow through with what you promise and who is willing to lend a helping hand to others.

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1. Networking – Build a network of other people who are influential in your career field. Professional organizations, chambers of commerce, and networking groups are great resources for meeting people who are leaders in your field and community. As you cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with your networking contacts, you’ll likely learn about new job opportunities before they are announced to the general public.
2. Computer Skills – Having strong computer skills is a key to success in just about any career field. People who keep up with the latest software applications and operating systems often have a competitive advantage when it comes to being considered for promotions and getting new jobs. Even if you are very busy, there are a number of options for inexpensive and convenient online training programs that can help you stay on top of the latest advances in computer technology.
3. Professional Licensure – In many fields, there is a huge salary difference between licensed and unlicensed professionals. Say, for example that you work in the office of an apartment complex. Because of your work experience, you might very likely have the skills needed to be a real estate agent or home inspector, and you could boost your earning potential by becoming a licensed professional in one of these fields.
4. Get Certified – When employers are looking at hiring highly skilled professionals, they want to be sure that the candidates they choose do in fact have the skills to do the job. Earning a recognized certification in your field is one of the best ways to prove your skills to prospective employers.
5. Earn a Degree – One of the best ways to help yourself move up in your career is by increasing and validating your knowledge base with a degree.

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If you’re anything like me, there are probably times when you’ve booked onto a networking event and then when the day arrives, you question whether or not to go to it. My reasons are usually around the stack of work I’ve got building up on my desk and I debate whether to stay in the office and plough through it or to make the effort to go to the event.

And I’m obviously not the only one who feels that way, judging by the amount of no-shows that an event usually gets. Nine times out of ten though, I do turn up, partly because once I book something in my diary I tend to stick to it and partly because very often when I do go, it’s worth my while.

Just the other day, I attended a networking event, that to be honest about half way through I was thinking “why did I bother”. But then, the 10-minute speaker stood up. He was excellent and gave me a couple of really good marketing tips that I hadn’t come across before. That in itself was worth my time to go to the event.

So, why is it then that people in generally don’t go to the event? Well, like my reason above, I think the number one reason is probably time – as in something they consider more important on the day has come up and the person has to stay and do that instead.

The second most common reason is probably the “can’t be bothered” excuse. I know I’ve certainly felt like that, or it could be that I’m not in the mood to socialise and be nice to other people.

Other excuses could be that the person is ill or an emergency has happened. I’m sure there are other reasons too. But, you see, that’s where there seems to be a bit of a conflict. I hear business owners say that they want to get more business and yet they will also say that they haven’t got time to go out there and get it – so it comes back to a choice of which one is more important to you.

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Whether you have a new business or one that has stood the test of time, you should create (or dust off) your marketing plan. Developing one doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Investing a little time will yield great dividends. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Your plan should be a working document, a road map for your business. It should be designed to help you understand and grow your business. I recommend housing it in a three ring binder so you can change and add to it when necessary, include blank note pages, store relevant articles and expand on it throughout the course of the year.

Your marketing plan should include the following:

• List of products and services
• Detailed description of your target markets
• Challenges and competitive analysis
• Budget
• Identification of appropriate marketing vehicles
• Calendar with deadlines and expectations
• Goals; specific and quantifiable that can be monitored throughout the year

PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Your list should include all the services you offer including any you provide free of charge. Note which products or services are new, which will be offered in the coming year, which will be phased out, and those that are unique in the market. You might also want to write a list of products and services that you would like to offer this year or next year to begin the planning process.

TARGET MARKET
Next identify your target market. First, where are they located? Local, regional or national? Then define each target market as specifically as possible. Very often I have clients who say, “Everyone can use my product.” This is rarely true.

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Google AdWords
You’ve heard of Google AdWords, but have you tried it? It may at first seem daunting, but once you get the hang of it, it can fast become an asset.

In AdWords (www.google.com/ads) you can create text, print, radio or even TV ads. Start with a text ad, the kind you find on nearly every website and the ads that you see to the right of Google searches. They include a bold heading, two lines of text and a website address.

Write an ad that will draw people’s attention and encourage them to click on it which will take them to your website. Make sure your website is up to date prior to getting started!

Before creating your ad, do a Google search on the terms you think people will use to find your company and see what comes up, your competition? Local/national companies? Many ads, a few or none. What do the ads say? Which one would you click on? If many ads appear, there is greater competition and your cost per click will need to be higher.

Cost per click refers to how Google charges you; however, you have control over this. You can set your cost per click at any amount, it depends on your overall budget, how much your product costs, and how high up on the list you want your ad to appear. If your product or service is inexpensive, you probably don’t want to spend a lot for a potential lead, but if you are selling a more expensive item, you might want to spend more per click. This amount is flexible even by keyword; so if you were in the landscaping business you might spend 25 cents on the keyword ‘lawn’, and $5.00 per click on ‘landscape design.’ You will also set a daily and monthly budget, so if you want to spend $150 per month on Google ads, you will choose $5.00 per day then divide that by the amount per click to arrive at the number of clicks to expect per day.

You can also select specific sites that you want your ad to appear on.

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Trade shows and expos are a terrific way to showcase your business and meet new customers. Preparation, several months in advance, is the key to ensuring that you maximize the experience.

Very often local trade and business organizations host an annual expo of some kind. These usually offer a good opportunity to get your feet wet on a smaller scale without the flying and hotel expenses.

If you aren’t already familiar with expos in your area, begin contacting business organizations to ask about regional trade shows and find one that is right for you. While you need to make sure the target audience for the show is appropriate for your business, sometimes you can find a show that at first glance may not seem like a fit but actually might be a good choice and, at the same time, provide a chance to outsmart the competition.

For example, a recent home show near me features the expected booths such as home builders, kitchen cabinet makers, garden experts, and power washing, but also on hand were two videographers who offered wedding and special occasion video services as well as the transfer of old home movies to DVD. So while their work wasn’t specifically geared toward the home it was certainly of interest to many and they stood out in the crowd.

Smaller, local shows are often less expensive to ‘buy into’ as well. Typical smaller trade shows generally charge between $200 – $2,000 for 10 x 10 booth. For larger shows expect to spend anywhere from $5,000 – $10,000+ on the booth rental. You can also purchase several booths next to each other to create one larger booth or display area. Obviously the more space you desire, the more expensive it will be.

Signing up early can sometimes enable you to request a specific location within the trade show and may also give you the chance to take advantage of early bird discounted registration rates.

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I think most of us are pretty sold on the idea of extending our networks. Knowing more people gives you a greater opportunity to be of service. Like many other marketing activities, networking requires an investment – of your money, your time and your commitment. So before paying again for another year’s membership, take a moment to analyse whether this investment has given you the return you expected.

Firstly, did you commit fully to the network over the last year. Did you go to meetings regularly, make an effort to meet new people, and then keep in touch with them afterwards? Did you join a committee or become involved in the management of the group?

If you haven’t made the grade by participating fully in a network, then you shouldn’t expect a big return. Your decision on whether to stay with this particular network should revolve around whether you plan to put in 100% effort for the next 12 months.

However, if you can say – hand on heart – that you invested the right amount of time, then the question really does become about what you got out of it.

Here’s a list of things to consider:

•  How many new contacts did you make that you would feel comfortable contacting?
•  How much new business did you get as a result of being part of the network?
•  How valuable was the content of the events you attended? What did you learn that has helped you or your business?
•  How much did you enjoy mixing with the other members?
•  How much time did you invest with each network?
•  What was the total cost of being with the network for the last 12 months?
•  How relevant was the network to the type of business you run?

When you start to articulate some of these things, it will quickly become clear whether you should stay or move on from each group.

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Have you been hearing all of the buzz about social networking? Feeling confused?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The great news is that it isn’t as complicated or time consuming as it may seem. Plus, it’s more than just social; it’s good for your business to get involved.

The list of social networking sites is long and growing. I don’t want to overwhelm you so I’m only going to focus on two that are particularly suited for you as a business owner, Facebook.com and LinkedIn.com.

So why should you care? What’s the big deal? Well, here are just a few reasons to enter the social networking realm:

* Gain exposure for your business that may lead to new clients or projects

* Increase the credibility of your business (give and receive recommendations on LinkedIn, post messages on friend’s pages on Facebook)

* Be connected to the people in your network in one location (OK, two if you’re on both Facebook and LinkedIn)

* Re-connect with business contacts you’ve lost touch with (sometimes they find you, sometime you discover them)

* Meet new people and expand your business network (meet your friend’s friends that you otherwise wouldn’t meet)

Here’s a quick overview of them (both are gratis and LinkedIn offers paid upgrade options).

Facebook:

- Informal and more social than business focused (this doesn’t mean it’s not good for your business)

- Almost 100 million members (according to Wikipedia)

- Anyone can ask you to be ‘friends’ (you don’t have to accept) and you can ask anyone to be friends (they don’t have to accept either)

- It is possible to share photos, videos, and add applications

- You can join groups within the network that interest you (or make your own group)

LinkedIn:

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