These days it’s less about whether a business should use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube and more about how to get the best interaction and results from them

Given that a recent report from Experian Hitwise titled The Rise and Rise of the Social Network places all four of these networks in the top 50 websites visited by Australian internet users, it starts to make even more sense that your marketing mix should include social media. Right now there are around 8 million Australians who regularly use Facebook, and Twitter experienced worldwide growth of 1100% in 2009!

Do you need a better reason to become involved in social media?

Social media, business and Sybiz

At its heart, social media is a way for people to stay in touch with family and friends around the world. ‘We know we can’t be family’, says Sybiz Software’s Managing Director Peter Whalley, ‘but we’d love to be your friend’.

‘We’ve definitely seen an increase in individuals engaging with us through social media platforms’, says Whalley. ‘In our opinion this is the way of the future. There is simply no better way of connecting with so many people on a relaxed, friendly and personal level.’

The Experian Hitwise report mentioned above reports that over twice as many people click through to sites relating to computer software from social networking pages than from search engine results. ‘As a leading business software company, that’s something we’d be crazy to ignore’, Peter Whalley affirms.

How should I use social media?

The real question is ‘how shouldn’t you use social media?’ People will follow you if they like your brand’s personality and feel they can trust you. Primarily though, they’re expecting you to add some kind of value to their lives—they’re definitely not following you to be sold to.

It’s a difficult balancing act and Sybiz Software has focused on this principle of offering value. ‘Just take a look at our Facebook page’, suggests Peter Whalley. ‘You won’t find us shouting “buy, buy, buy”, but you’ll find updates on expos, fundraising events, quirky websites we’ve found and announcements to keep our customers in the loop. What’s more, it’s yet another way for reaching out.’ Social media enables Sybiz to effectively create a one to one relationship with any one, anywhere in the world, and that’s a very powerful thing.

All of this said, there’s no point in spending the considerable time it takes to implement a professional and targeted social networking strategy if it isn’t for a good reason. You should certainly offer your followers the chance to find out more about your products as part of your online strategy—and the key word here is ‘offer’.

It’s essential to let your followers enjoy and be in control of the relationship. If you play your social media cards right and people like and trust you, then they’ll take the time to start talking to you. If they’re talking to you there’s a good chance they’re talking about you, and in the world of social media that’s a good thing!

The best advice Sybiz Software can offer to other innovative businesses wanting to take the social media bull by the horns is to check out what Sybiz has put together.

‘And feel free to drop us a line through your preferred platform. We’d love to meet you and tell you more about our approach’, says Peter Whalley. ‘You can even telephone us if you’d prefer to go old school!’

Where you’ll find us

To find Sybiz Software just go to your favourite site and search for us.
We’re tweeting on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/SybizSoftware/
We’re streaming on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/sybizsoftware
Link with us at LinkedIn at: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/85855
Space out with us on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/sybiz
Become our Facebook friend at: http://www.facebook.com/sybiz
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