There are numerous social networks where your message(s) can be seen. Visibility is important; however, you want to be visible in the right marketplace. Rather than spending time blasting your message and ads to the wrong market, or to thousands of others whom you are competing with, try to locate social networks appropriate to your target audience. This methodology employs the same tactics as keyword usage and SEO/SEM. Broad based keywords will have the effect of generating more traffic than narrowly based keywords. However, narrowly defined keywords will generate higher conversion rates. Being more specific and less generalized in your targeting is an important factor to consider when preparing and delivering your message.

Types of Networks

In addition to the well-known multi-purpose networks like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter; depending on your product, service or niche, consider employing vertical markets, social bookmarking sites, recommendation engines, social shopping networks, horizontal markets, virtual worlds, photo sharing and video sharing networks, mobile networks and if appropriate, international networks.

Of the more hotly discussed social media networks, Twitter is so hot now due in part to the fact that it transcends the multi-purpose market and encompasses the mobile empowered network. Even though the majority of the social network options do not share this empowerment, they can nonetheless, be valuable to your campaign(s).

To keep this post short, I will list some of the many other social network options in a soon to follow post. Go ahead and subscribe to this blog so you do not miss out on valuable information and important news.

With narrowly defined keywords you will need to use more of them to maximize your campaign’s target reach. It is certainly easier to go the broad match route. However, over the long term, like so many other things in life, you get back what you put in. If you take shortcuts when you sow your advertising seeds, you will reap shortcomings on your returns.

So, the question to ask your potential SEO specialist is whether they think you should use broad matched or narrow matched keywords. You may also want to ask them why they give you the answer they do, so that you have a better understanding of where they are coming from.

This is Part Two in a Series on Selecting an SEO Company or SEO Specialist. Read Part One