Using social networking in business is one of the best online marketing strategies you can use provided your approach is not too heavy handed. Remember you are promoting to people you are also developing a social 'relationship' with and this changes EVERYTHING! There needs to be a certain 'balance' between your socializing and promotional activities requiring that you leave more traditional and hard hitting marketing tactics at the door. With the right 'balance' in your approach you can leverage the traffic these sites have to offer to help you build your business much more rapidly online.

Here are 3 areas you will need to be mindful of concerning the marketing tactics you apply when working within any of the internet social communities.

Presentation

Strategically intermingle your 'product' presentations with your socializing activities. When the opportunity presents itself go ahead and give your business a 'plug' but do not over do it! Much like email marketing you do not want every message or exchange to be promotional in nature! The marketing tactics you do employ in any social community should be less aggressive and less frequent in order to be effective!

Suggestion

As mentioned above you need to take deliberate measures to soften your approach when promoting anything! Do not be pushy or else people will begin to ignore and avoid you! In fact it is a good idea to take a more 'suggestive' posture when presenting something to others at any social site. When you consider that you have already taken the time to become friendly with the people at these sites your suggestions will be listened to more closely and taken more seriously! Using this approach can be a highly effective way in which to build your business!

Avoid Guarantees

Unless you are absolutely certain of your product claims at all cost avoid making guarantees. Marketing tactics like this are only effective if the claims are true in which case your 'word' and level of authority will soar. On the other hand however if you can not back up what you say your reputation and chances of repeat sales will plummet. Working in these communities it is more about persuasion and not promoting, one leads to sales while the other leads to long lasting 'relationships' and this relationship is something you can build your business on!

Most important of all is that when promoting anything on these sites it is much like selling to a friend...merely 'suggest' and allow them to decide for themselves!

The use of social networking in business can be a highly effective means with which to build your business. Care and consideration however must be taken concerning the use of aggressive marketing tactics since this approach could do more damage than good. The 3 areas discussed above address using a 'softer' more 'suggestive approach when promoting within any of these online communities. By doing so you will likely discover why this approach is widely considered one of the best online marketing strategies you can employ.