These days, social media is all the rage with many web development companies in Milwaukee and abroad. As more and more web developers plaster their client websites with links to Twitter and Facebook pages, it begs the question, when you are looking for a manufacturer of epoxy resins, or a cylinder repair shop, would YOU go to Twitter or Facebook to begin your search, or at any point in your search? A web developer may tell you social media and “web 2.0” is an important aspect of your online presence. What is important about it? Does "web 2.0" drive new business to you? If not, then what is the point? The point might just be real web marketing is too difficult of a nut to crack for second tier web developers looking to expand their horizons without working any harder or learning anything new, difficult or lasting.
In a select and narrow few industries, maintaining an active Facebook page may be worth the time it takes to do so (or the money it takes to pay a web developer to do social networking). For example, one iNET web development client is a photographer who does lots of senior photo shoots. They have found Facebook is an effective way for them to get their presence known by local high school seniors, and their Facebook profile has actually brought them business.
There ARE business oriented social networking websites like Linked-In and Plaxo where you are more likely to be able to connect with people who actually make business decisions for substantially sized companies. The fact is, at whatever social networking site you go on, maintaining an active presence and making REAL connections (not thinly veiled spam attempts) takes a regular investment of time and energy. If you think you might enjoy connecting with people through social media, or communicating through 144 character “tweets”, then give social media a shot. If you have an active social media profile you update on a regular basis, put thought into, and enjoy maintaining, you may actually be able to foster a relationship with someone who someday becomes a customer.
Reality is; the vast majority of decision makers at the vast majority of businesses are not spending time on Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media website looking for people to do business with. If you’re worried your company may be getting left behind by not taking part in the “social media revolution”, you can relax. Links from social media sites do not pass value to your website in search engine rankings, and social media sites are NOT where your customers are looking for you.
My advice on social networking-pumping website developers; be wary of taking advice from any web developer who has hours a day to spend updating a social media profile.