Create a Social Networking Site and Monetize it

Google Alerts (www.rsitez.com)

If you have an online business it’s CRITICAL that you know what is being posted about you online as soon as the information is posted.  This includes info posted on blogs, News articles, forums and even social networking sites. 

You want to know if someone posted something positive about you so that you can respond in like to start creating a relationship with the individual or organization that made the post.  These relationships can yield great results as you continue to build your brand.

Likewise, if there was a negative post about you online, you should know about it and respond appropriately to minimize the impact. 

You should also track what your competitors are saying and what is being said about them so that you can react as needed to this type of competative news.

The process of monitoring, tracking, and responding to information that affects your brand is called Brand Management or sometimes Reputation Management.

You can use Google Alert (http://www.google.com/alerts) to monitor and track your online brand. It takes only a minute to configure this and it’s free. 

You can enter any search keywords that affects your business and ask google to monitor it.  This could include your business name, competitors business names, search keywords or other items of interest.  Google will monitor these keywords in news, blogs, videos and discussions and send you an email each time it finds newly posted content regarding this. 

Example: If the Washington Post include your business name in a new article online, Google would send you an email with the link of the article without you having to search for it.  You will be able to click on the article, read it, and post relevant comments.  This enhances your online presence, creates backlinks for Search Engine Optimization, and helps with your ongoing effort to create a solid online brand.

You can configure these email notifications to be received as the news happens, daily, or weekly – depending on your preference.

Once you have turned this feature on you will be able to keep track on your online reputation for your business and continue to build a lasting and powerful online brand.

About the author

Rohan Hall is the Founder/CEO of rSitez, Inc. (www.rsitez.com), a technology firm that helps entrepreneurs create custom, revenue-based social networking sites.  He is the author of Stop Working, a book that teaches entrepreneurs how to use technology, globalization, and networks to build a global business.  He has developed technologies for a wide range of entrepreneurs and Fortune500 clients including HP, Corning, Oracle, Honda and various others.

Techcrunch announced that Ning has layed of 40% of their staff and will be discontinuing their free services.  All Ning network owners will need to pay for Premium services to continue using their Ning network or they will need to migrate their network to another platform.

The news was released in an email from  Jason Rosenthal who took over Ning CEO Gina Bianchini position about a month ago.  The email from Rosenthal stated:

“My main conclusion is that we need to double down on our premium services business. Our Premium Ning Networks like Friends or Enemies, Linkin Park, Shred or Die, Pickens Plan, and tens of thousands of others both drive 75% of our monthly US traffic, and those Network Creators need and will pay for many more services and features from us.”

At the end of the day the lesson learned by Ning is that “FREE” is not a business model.  Even with over $120 million in investor funding, Ning still needs to generate revenue to pay its bills and to grow its business.  At some point, investors need to start seeing a return on their investment as well.

At rSitez, we understand this very basic business fact and provide a variety of payment plans for everyones budget.  Our plans include more features than Ning and we provide the opportunity to fully customize your social networking sites.  We will literally develop any feature you would like to make your site unique and competative and are loved by entrepreneurs for this reason.  Additionally, network owners own all the content in their network and take it anytime they like.

rSitez continues to grow every year and more than doubled revenue last year.  We’re a financially and technically strong company and do understand the reality of having a solid and reliable business model.

We wish the best of success to all the Ning network owners and welcome this opportunity for them to compare our offering and prices at www.rsitez.com with offering provided by Ning or any other network provider.

When we start marketing and networking on social media sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, we sometimes forget some of the simple rules of engagement.

In his book, “Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten,” author Robert Fulghum reminded us of the basics of getting along with others. Although it was originally published in 1989, his observations are timeless.

Even in our high tech world, we can look back at some of the lessons we learned in elementary school, and see that it applies to establishing successful relationships online.

1. Don’t be bossy. If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur, chances are you are bursting with excitement about your product or service. You want to shout its praises from the rooftops. But when you are building tenuous relationships with others, especially across the Internet, you need to take a more subtle approach.

Instead of delivering a heavy handed sales pitch, focus on your customers and what they need. What problems are stumping them? What is costing them time, energy and efficiency? Then, let them know how your products or services can help.

2. Don’t say anything you don’t want your mother to hear. Although social networking has a casual element, keep in mind that you are building a reputation online for your business. Be careful before disclosing too much personal information or getting caught up in controversial discussions. If someone posts a negative comment on your blog, don’t immediately shoot back a flaming response. Mom wouldn’t like that.

3. Listen to others. The whole purpose of social media is to get others to interact with you. That means you have to create an environment where people want to respond. If you have your own blog, you can do this by asking questions. You can visit other blogs and find out what others are thinking and join that discussion.

If you have your own social networking site, like ones offered at rSitez, you can start a community discussion through blogs, forums, and chats. Once you’ve gotten your readers talking, listen to them and let them know you appreciate their interests.

It sounds simple, but how many times have you clicked on a website looking for information and been inundated with heavy sales copy? Or read a blog where the author dismisses comments that contrast his? Or see where someone says something completely inappropriate on Facebook that diminishes your view of him?

By remembering the basic social rules that you would use in establishing face-to-face relations, you’ll have success in creating relationships online.