Choices, choices, choices…

There is a big problem when it comes to doing business online.

Every day another opportunity, another choice… What do you do?

The problem with internet marketing is the mind-boggling scope of all the programs and options for putting a small home business into a global marketplace. It can be like throwing a lamb into a lion’s den. Many people get lost just by the overwhelming number of options available to find effective sales training online.

As Todd Oldfield, a friend of mine, says, “Chase one rabbit at a time! If you try to chase two rabbits at the same time, you won’t catch a rabbit!”

So are there better social networking sites for business?

Or is a top-tier business marketing platform the best option?

Social networks are the bustle of the Internet. Ask anyone about the best social networking sites for business and they’ll tell you it’s Facebook or Google. But are they the best for your business?

Google and Facebook are currently in a fighting competition to see who can emerge victorious. While hundreds of smaller social networks are fighting over a piece of the social media pie. Does this work for your business?

First, let’s take a look at a business network. LinkedIn sets itself apart as one of the best business networking sites for businesses and professions. In fact, you wouldn’t join LinkedIn solely to socialize like you do on social media. LinkedIn has a free membership, as well as more features available with a paid membership. Paid memberships start at $29.95 per month and go up to $75.95 per month.

Paid memberships give you the ability to view more profiles, message anyone on LinkedIn, find out who has viewed your profile, and see expanded profiles on anyone on LinkedIn.

You will still need to add other sites to complete your trading platform. You will need a place to hold meetings, organize events, develop a business forum and do video marketing.

What does Facebook have to offer the business person?

Recent changes to Facebook have made it more business friendly. Facebook is a good place to build relationships, find like-minded people, and join business groups. Facebook engages more than a million people and is therefore a great place to find customers and business partners.

Google offers similar features plus a “meeting” room where you can meet up to ten people at a time. Also with Google you can create multiple email accounts and use each one for a different purpose.

In the offline world, when you take a break from the office, you head to the local coffee shop and strike up conversations. Or use the cafeteria to meet with clients and discuss a business proposal. Well, Facebook, for the online business person, is like the coffee shop. It is a place to increase your circle of friends and build trusting relationships.

What if you could take coffee breaks and then consolidate all your trading sites into one online trading community? This business community would be your office dedicated to doing business.

It would be a top notch business marketing platform where you have everything you need at your fingertips. A global network of online businesses offering things like:

• Organization and programming of events
• Meeting rooms for small and large groups
• One-on-one chat rooms
• videoconference
• video email
• Specific business forums
• Personal and business profiles
• Internal networks like LinkedIn

No longer would it be necessary to choose between Facebook and a business community platform. You can use the best of both. Work in the office and take breaks in the cafeteria!