Social networks - the new inbox?

In recent months social networks have increased in popularity against the traditional email, however, according to one sector commentator, this is a point that many businesses have failed to grasp.

Companies looking to embrace social media in the new year may be interested to know that Erik Qualman, writing on the online pages of Search Engine Watch, claims that such firms still believe they need to get users into their databases in order to market to them.

He explained that this thinking was actually doing businesses a disservice.

Mr Qualman likens it to asking a girl in a bar if she would like a drink and when she answers yes, throwing her in the car and driving her home to give her a beer from the fridge.

"This is not a sound courtship strategy, nor are analogous social media strategies employed by companies courting potential customers," he explains.

Businesses which cultivate a relationship with the consumer via social media should create one that lasts a lifetime, he concludes.

Meanwhile, Top Rank Blog's Lee Odden has claimed that building a community can boost search engine optimisation.

Contact the experts at home james for Social Media services.