A while back, Website Magazine released the 2009 List of the Top 50 Social Media Resources that was based on a study conducted by Universal McCann in Fall 2008.  The report discussed three major trends happening in non-search related traffic on the Internet: the rise in social media, the importance of digital “friends,” and the rise of social influencer channels.

What this means for the small business marketing itself online is an opportunity to capitalize on the visitor traffic funneling through the social media sites who are searching for specific interests related to your business.  Of course, there are nuances of technique involved that make this strategy effective, and a small business owner should be cautioned against creating any social media page without first crafting a deliberate strategy that’s engineered toward their desired result.  The good news is, anyone can create a social media page about anything.  The bad news is, anyone can create a social media page about anything.  As with anything Internet, your pages should not ever be about “anything.”  

Social media has tremendous leverage and levels out the playing field for any small business seeking to build their brand and expand their audience.  Properly targeted, it can drive a lot of qualified traffic to your website.  Social media outlets are just hitting their stride, so the potential is nearly limitless.  

Small businesses would be well advised to create accounts and post relevant content on the social media sites listed below that would likely serve your intended audience.  Not all sites are created equal, and not all will apply to your business.  Neither is social media the only form of marketing or traffic building you should pursue.  It’s one effective strategy amongst many.  There is a time and place for social media, and it’s definitely not the only method of finding qualified prospects for your business.  It is, however, one of the least expensive and most effective.

Here is the list of Top 50 Social Media Sites as compiled by Website Magazine:

Technorati Tags: Audience, Bad News, Bebo, Deliberate Strategy, Digg, Facebook, Friendster, Hitting Their Stride, Leverage, Livejournal, Media Outlets, Media Resources, Myspace, Nuances, Propeller, Prospects, Reddit, Relevant Content, Small Business Owner, Small Businesses, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, squidoo, stumbleupon, Technorati, Time And Place, Universal Mccann, Visitor Traffic, Web 2.0 Marketing, What This Means, WikiHow, Youtube marketing

Yesterday, I had the privilege and opportunity to participate in the annual Santa Clarita Lock-Up to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a drive to raise funds to support children with MD.  The Signal newspaper was there to cover the event and yours truly got to experience “life behind bars”… Being a marketing and computer nerd, you can imagine that I’m not used to having my photo in the newspaper, but sure enough there it is!  If my “mug” can raise money to help children, I’m all for it.

And to the right… my mug shot, alongside my lovely cell mate, Christine.

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the parents and children who were present, the MDA volunteers for your tireless support, and Outback Steakhouse for hosting the event, providing the food and to the servers and staff who donated their time.

If you’d like to see the full write-up in the Signal, here is the link: Local Execs Thrown in the Slammer – for good!

My sentence was to send two children with a neuromuscular disease to a week long summer camp put on my MDA.  They set my bail at $1600; it costs $800 to send one child to summer camp.  I had the chance to meet some great local kids that go to camp, pictured below from left to right Cameron and his mom Vicky, Jared with mom Kari, and Katy with her mom Lisa.

I was only released when I promised I would do my best to continue raising my bail.  Every donation counts; MDA never turns away any child from attending summer camp no matter the cost.

This year, MDA was able to raise enough money to send 18 kids to camp; they are very close to their goal of sending 25 kids…  I just created a new web page where you can donate directly to MDA — I know times are tough, but if you would click on the link below and give a donation to help these kids and their families, it would mean a lot to me…

Join Kinetics Web Pro in helping Children with MD

Thank you for your help and support!  Please contact me if you have any questions or if you want to hear tales from my time in jail.  Happy Holidays!

– MDA Jailbird John, from Kinetics Web Pro

Technorati Tags: Charity, Children & the Web, Community, Family & Social Media, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Santa Clarita Lock-Up, Social Media, Web 2.0

Today we claimed Kinetics Web Pro on Technorati.

Technorati Profile

Technorati Tags: Blogs, Social Media, Technorati