Clint's Web Marketing Blog

There are literally hundreds of social networking sites on the Internet. With so many options, it becomes difficult to distinguish which you should be using and for what purposes. I think that often times the dilemma of deciding which sites to join, leads us to extremes: We either sign up for them all or shy away completely (neither of which are good options). But these tools can be very valuable to your web marketing and branding strategy, so you might as well jump on board.

First and foremost, if you don’t already have a profile on LinkedIn, get one immediately. It is probably the most important social networking site for professionals such as doctors and lawyers. It may feel like a lot of work, but if you spend a little bit of time everyday on you profile, it will slowly but surely come along. The great thing about LinkedIn is that once your profile is complete, it rather low maintenance. Plus—the discussion groups and networks that you can join and participate in will help establish your credibility. Heck you might even learn something.

Other important social networking sites for professionals include Facebook, Google Profiles, and Twitter. Facebook and Twitter require significantly less work upfront than LinkedIn, but will need involvement on your part (10-20 minutes weekly). All of these, including Google Profiles, will help your search engine positioning and visibility.

Social media marketing is a process. Don’t over-do it, but don’t ignore it.