Picture from www.nwahomepage.com

Social Media is now being used on multiple levels – to name just a few:

1. Strengthening a businesses brand and online presence

2. Building up a trustworthy community

3. Assisting in connecting team members, raising the awareness of staff talent and interests

4. Providing another avenues in delivering outstanding customer service.

I am a big believer that when a business is innovative and embraces new and creative avenues when expressing their message, then they will always reap the rewards. There are so many businesses out there right now that have the same opportunity as everyone else yet some take the opportunity by the horns, whilst others lag behind. Whether it’s a fear of change or they are too lazy to change the routine, I’m not sure, yet the point of this post is to highlight a business that is adopting a new way of recruiting staff….and  THAT my friends raises my heart rate above 100BPM!!! So we have talked about how the big brands like Ford and Virgin are leveraging and nailing this social media space, let’s drill down to a smaller Melbourne based company.

Sportsnet Holidays are a perfect example of a company who are embracing new avenues to achieve a specific goal. I love how they are rolling out their latest recruitment strategy. It’s personable, authentic and cutting edge. Who could not want a job there!!! Check out the video and the authenticty of the Founder and Director Rob Cecconi and AB as they speak from the heart. AB even gets interupted via the gong and still proceeds on! I love it – it’s raw, natural and catchy.

Every business has this opportunity that Sportsnet Holidays have utlised, yet how many are really doing it??? How many businesses are changing the game, mixing up the routine, taking a step out of their comfort zone or embracing their creative side??? I wanna know!

Good on ya Sportsnet Holidays, I trust you will inspire many other businesses to think and ACT in the way you have in this powerful social media space.

I’m now throwing it out to the floor, what are your thoughts here ?

I have been buzzing around the on and offline world networking my butt off this week – oowww yeahr..Just the way I like it!

Networking on and offline is a MUST for any successful business owner and these two puppies will keep you super connected with your target market , enabling you to listen to their needs, emotionally connect and then provide! SHAZAM!

Let’s Refresh’s target market right now are not utilising this power space called Social media to the max - hence our blog! They seem to be  either curious to find out what all the buzz is about, are pumped and ready to dive in, or are sceptical of what social media can provide for their business.

That in mind, over the next few posts I’m going to introduce you to some super switched on biz people who I totally respect, and who are utilising the online networking world to the max AND  are reaping the rewards too!

Meet Kirsty Wilson

 http://www.interimbusiness.com.au/

I first met Kirsty on Twitter and decided to follow her as she gave out some quality tips, seemed open, warm and cheery (which added to the flow of my day) and she really knew how to connect and listen to her followers. I wanted in!  From here our relationship grew pretty quickly (that tends to happen on twitter if you choose to put in the hours). We were fizzing together so much that the next step forwards was to meet  face to face. I hooked up an interview with her as I believed Kirtsy’s story would assist my clients and readers  to “get this space” even more.

This video is totally transparent. I decided not to edit it as I wanted you to see the real Kirsty and hear all she had to say. Lap it up guys!

 I’m guessing you will take something from Kirstys sharing’s, whether it’s inspiration, evidence, knowledge or a great big smile – I know I certainly did!

If you would like to hook up with Kirsty on twitter and connect real time then hit this button now! She’s GOLD and more GOLD!

Well groovers, I hope you enjoyed the post…GET READY for the next installation of talent – see part 2! Wooharrr for Social Media …wooharrr power to the people at last! Was this post of value to you…I wanna know!

   I’m posing the question here because of late, my face book personal page has slowly grown into a powerful space for business networking and lead gen. I believe that facebook is certainly a site to watch and utilise!My prediction for 2010 - Facebook will be the premier social networking site for small business owners. Linkedin, plaxo, xing will start to fade into the back ground.

Why???…because those busy little beavers at facebook are innovative, extremely savvy and driven. Just take a look into the past at the tricks they have been pulling!

Facebook has a history of attacking their competitors at their strongest points says Josh Catone . 

MySpace had a strong widget system, so Facebook dived in and launched their application platform which forced MySpace to hurry up and do the same. MySpace focuses predominantly on music and film, so Facebook has recently got on the case too. LinkedIn has a strong stake in business networking. Facebook has now been laying the groundwork to go after LinkedIn’s audience the way they’ve gone after MySpace’s!!!!!There’s nothing stopping this driven and savvy team!

Simply check out their latest new business3.0 application. Now if that’s not business forward thinking then I don’t know what is?

I also believe fan pages and profile pages are just as powerful if used in the correct Facebook etiquette manner – check the next post for this!

You ask any small business owner (who is successfully growing their presence via the web), which sites they use to connect, build relationships, create lead gen and drive traffic to their website/blog…you’ve guessed it! Facebook and Twitter!

 So,  what are other business owners saying about Facebook? Is all this hype really true?

Small business owner Stan Dubin says “I’m not on Facebook to rush into people’s faces with my products and services.

I’m making new connections, both of a personal nature and a business nature. I enjoy meeting new people in both arenas and I’m fine if I make a connection and the person isn’t compelled to buy something today or ever. It’s nice to make connections”.

Nigel Legg adds “I have accounts with LinkedIN, Plaxo, Xing, Hi5, and Facebook, as well as a couple of specialist forums and bulletin boards, but the only one I use regularly is Facebook. I have recently done business with someone I am in contact with on three platforms, which came out of a Facebook personal message conversation. At some stage, almost all business will go to email, telephone, and face to face, wherever it is initiated, so the move to facebook is not a hard one” 

Mari Smith is a huge digger of facebook! Mari comments “ Absolutely, serious business can be done – and IS being done – on Facebook by solo-professionals, entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, internet marketers, info-product creators etc. etc.

No way is Facebook  just for kids anymore! Businesses who ban Facebook in the office have their head in the sand. 

I can attest that significant business profits are being generated as a direct result of being active on Facebook. The trick is not to be a ‘marketer’ – but to connect, to care, to be a thought leader, to add value… to come from win:win, and to think relationships first, business second”

So you can read and hear what all the buzz is about! Yet is it true? My advice….if you are serious about building up your online business then start  a facebook fan page and profile page then get back to me! What do you think?