Business Networking Sites - Growing Industry, Growing Competition!!

Business Networking Sites such as Ecademy, WordofMouse and LinkedIn are sprouting up at every corner, and just like Social Networking Sites, these E-Business owners, must face up to the Competition.

I was recently asked by two such sites to give feedback on how they could attract visitors enough to register:

Here are a few helpful tips:

E-Lesson 1: Your offering must have something that blatantly stands out from the rest - and is visible on the first page within a few seconds.

Don't invest in fancy animation, unless it loads fast and has something clear to say immediately.

FAQ sections are great but you need to answer the following questions on the homepage:

• What's different about this site and proposition?
• What are the benefits?
• Is it free and if not, is it value for money?
• Is it fast? (I am going to have to fill out a long profile - how long will it take?)

E.g. Possible Key Selling points for a Business Networking Site within which you set up your Own Peer Group:

• Your own business support community
• Arrange You own Meet ups
• Leverage The power of collaboration

E-Lesson 2: One statement! One slogan!

Note: Most web visitors are lazy and unless you have something engaging, they will not read or listen to a presentation. Grab their attention in a few words on the homepage!!

Example Slogan "Leverage the Power of Collaboration with your own Business Support Community"

E-Lesson 3: Your Internet Marketing Plan:

• Invest some time in search engine optimisation - the keywords, title pages etc.
  Use or a credible SEO specialist or learn the simple techniques yourself.
• For example: Ensure you have a meaningful homepage title. Include Business Network in the title of the homepage. "Business Network with a Difference".

These are just a few tips which will help get the ball rolling.

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