Seven Social Networking Strategies for Smaller Businesses

6. Building a Custom Social Network for Employees or Suppliers

Goldmine: Just as with custom social networks for customers or prospects, there are myriad technologies to build a community for employees or suppliers. But the ROI on social networks for employees adds up a bit differently than for externally facing sites. "Creating an internal social network is one of those critical best practices for getting the most out of high-value employees, retaining them for longer and making them happier," says Gartner's Austin. "Socializing is a critical part of getting to know other people, improving working relationships."

Landmine: A custom social network for employees or suppliers is a cost center, so the risk is spending money to build a custom solution. The wisest course of action is to start with open source forum software or free social network tools such as Ning and add custom features as the need arises.

Seven Social Networking Strategies for Smaller Businesses:

1. Prospecting on a Social Network
2. Sourcing Talent On A Social Network
3. Building Widgets For Social Networking Sites
4. Encouraging Employee Use, Not Abuse, Of Social Networking
5. Building A Custom Social Network For Customers
6. Building A Custom Social Network For Employees Or Suppliers
7. Building Brand Awareness On A Social Network

Next Page: Building Brand Awareness on a Social Network

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