Just recently, Facebook passed MySpace in unique visitors. But there may be an upswing, because in April 2009, MySpace announced a partnership with CitySearch, the local review site. While details are not yet out, small business owners interested in social network marketing might wish to take a second look at MySpace.
MySpace for Business?
Here are basic links to help you determine if this social network will help you market and sell what you’ve got to offer. Categories are: MySpace ethos, sample business and brand profiles, how to create a business profile, how to market and promote on MySpace, how to advertise with free classifieds and paid MyAds, and how to get more fans (friends.)
What is MySpace?
MySpace.com is primarily a social networking website, but there is latitude for small businesses to market and promote in different ways. Social networking for business generally and Facebook marketing have been covered in my earlier posts.
The MySpace Ethos
Each social network is its own kind of community, with local style, expectations and rules. MySpace is one of the free-wheeling, messier ones. You should look around and get comfortable before you start promoting. Here are a couple of links that explain the atmosphere.
Opinion: Using Facebook and MySpace as Business Tools
“As they mature, they’re emerging as important new tools for companies and employees.” One person gives a business perspective on the two sites, characterizing MySpace as a “new age entertainment portal with a social backbone.”
Thanks to Julia Sartain, Computerworld
Understanding MySpace Before Marketing There
MySpace is a slice of humanity, and hard for adults to get their heads around. Fortunately Spencer has a daughter to show him the ropes.
Thanks to Stephan Spencer, Stephan Spencer’s Scatterings
What Does a MySpace Page for Business Look Like?
Sample MySpace profiles from various businesses. You will see that profiles range from basic to slick and sassy.
CherryCoke — a brand page (there are many imitators)
Small Business Page (DIOSA Communications page) See its almost 1,000 small business and nonprofit fans. This is a good place to look for businesses similar to yours on this site.
Downtown Springfield Page A group of businesses in Springfield Illinois all create a MySpace profile
A short link on examples: Marketing Examples on MySpace
Discusses and provides links to the MySpace profiles of Red Bull, Aquifina and Wendy’s, as well as celebrity and entertainment profiles.
Thanks to Michael Gray, Graywolf’s SEO blog
How to Create a MySpace Profile Page
These links will help you get set up to use Myspace for business appropriately.
Making a MySpace Page for Your Business
The basics of setting up a page, adding features like videos, and making friends. Leonard also explains how to use your MySpace blog, as well as bulletin and comment functions, for business.
Thanks to Stacie Leonard, Volusion
Building an Effective MySpace Business Profile
How to fill out the profile fields for business, the importance of basic information like zip codes, design decisions and the impressions they make, finding your clients and friends.
Thanks to Felicia Nelson, Applied Content, August 2008
How to Set Up a MySpace Page (a 7 minute video)
Thanks to TrainingbyKristen
MySpace Launches Profile 2.0 — You Don’t Have to Switch
Brief discussion of old and new profiles as of November 2008.
Thanks to Stan Schroeder, Mashable
72 brief tips on how businesses can use, look good and market on MySpace.
Thanks to Heather Mansfield, DIOSA Communications (She also offers webinars on the topic)
Top Five Mistakes Made By Small Business on MySpace
Hint — the 5 mistakes concern “Captcha” forms, music, contact info, linking and your blog.
Thanks to Heather Mansfield, Sta.rtup.Biz
Your Complete Online Guide to MySpace For New and Old Users: PDF download
While not written for businesses, this is a 30-page PDF to MySpace that covers the waterfront. (Why no page numbers?) See unnumbered page 15 and 21-22 for a discussion of advertising on MySpace “where commercial websites are strictly prohibited.”
Thanks to Dan Hobson, www.1stchoicesearch.com
EHow.com Posts on Improving MySpace Profiles
How to Make Your MySpace Page More Interactive
7 steps. Thanks to EHow internet editor
How to Code a Picture to Put it On a MySpace Page
5 steps. Thanks to Jen Brister, EHow Editor
How to Optimize Your MySpace Page
5 steps. Thanks to EHow internet editor
How to Make Your MySpace Page Look Professional (Video)
Thanks to Erica Goms, EHow editor
How to Use Flash in HTML on MySpace
7 steps to save Flash into HTML and 5 steps to upload.
Thanks to Josienita Borlongan, EHow Editor
How to Get More Traffic to Your MySpace Page
7 steps. Thanks to EHow internet editor
How to Find New Features to Add to Your MySpace Page
5 steps. Thanks to EHow internet editor
Low-Key Marketing, Promoting and Selling on MySpace
The MySpace “terms of service” prohibits commercial activities. Nevertheless, there are ways to promote and marketing your business, as these links demonstrate.
“…despite the hazards, MySpace offers a lot promise as a venue for marketers to hawk their wares. MySpace allows you to interject yourself into existing networks of trust-based relationships and to bond with your visitors in ways not possible elsewhere on the Web. And you can interact with huge numbers of adults, not just teenagers. Surprisingly, more than half of MySpace visitors are age 35 or older, and more than two-thirds are age 25 or older, according to comScore Media Metrix.”
Thanks to Stephan Spencer, Marketing Profs blog, 2007
10 Ways to Make Money on MySpace
These ways include bulletin advertising, driving traffic to a website with affiliate links, MySpace resource site, volume accounts, selling advertising space on your site to others, partnering with musicians, creating MySpace script, proxy sites, and using groups for targeted marketing. Detailed advice from a leader in online marketing.
Thanks to Maki, DoshDosh blog
Promotional Pointers: Publicizing Your Website on MySpace
Build traffic, send bulletins, join groups to network, find forums, and know the limits.
Thanks to Linda Ann Nickerson, Applied Content
How to Promote Your Business On MySpace.
Decide what to feature, create an eye catching profile, use the blog for testimonials and customer stories, create an event, use the classifieds and groups. (not much more detail)
Thanks to EHow internet editors
How To Sell Products on MySpace (same recommendations for Selling Services.)
How to use the MySpace classifieds, in 8 steps. Thanks to EHow internet editors
How to Promote Your MySpace Business in 7 Easy Steps
Use pictures, backgrounds, headlines, establish a BIG problem, solve it, call to action, give them a take way, and don’t spam.
Thanks to Bonnie Ramsey, How-To Hub
MySpace Advertising
MyAds — Online Advertising MySpace’s own explanation of advertising possibilities
MySpace Launches Ad Network For Individuals, Small Businesses
“The do-it-yourself ads allow targeting of users based on information from their social profiles.”
Thanks to Heather Havenstein, Computerworld
MySpace Woos Small Business Ads
“With MySpace’s new MyAds service, anyone can launch an ad campaign on News Corp.’s social network for as little as $25″
Thanks to Heather Green, Business Week, October 2008
MySpace Launches DYI Ad Targeting Site
Create your ads, set your budget. Screen shots provided.
Thanks to Jennifer Guevin, CNET News, September 2008
MySpace Officially Unveils MyAds
As of October 2008, there was a minimum fee of $25 to set up an ad campaign, and the pay-per-click ad rate was $.25
Thanks to Mark “Rixxn” Hopkins, Mashable, October 2008
MySpace Fans (Friends)
The slow, ordinary way to get fans is to search for clients and prospects you know, and to network and email those with related interests, one by one. However, there are other techniques, below.
How to Get Lots of Friends on MySpace
Three ways — email lots of people in your area, use a code that indicates you will trade support for support, and use a friend blaster. I gather that the last is done, but frowned upon.
Thanks to Squintz82, and Ehow member
Marketing on MySpace — Why it’s Worth Your Time
Find your next customer and market to friends. Discusses the prohibited MySpace bots to find friends.
Thanks to Brad Williamson, Small Business Branding
How To Add Lots of Friends on MySpace (a video on Friendblaster, which I am not necessarily endorsing)
Thanks to Kevin Hokoana, leadbuilderpro.net
And how do YOU promote your business on MySpace? Should you? Please leave a comment. And you are invited to become a Fan of SCORE Chicago on MySpace.
Related Posts
Books on MySpace for business on Amazon
Stealing MySpace: A Review with Its Hard-Knocks Lessons for Starting a Social Networking Website
34 Links on How To Promote Your Small Business on Facebook
See all my Delicious links on using MySpace for business.
See other posts in my Online Marketing Series, which has 20 link-rich posts on 18 online marketing techniques.
Promoting your Myspace is not so difficult. The Internet “Gurus” are saying they can help for $$$ but actually getting promotion done is really quite easy. Creating a blog on your Myspace page will aid the traffic into it and getting friends to link to it helps also.
Great site with nice articles for small business owners.
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excellent article for my company site business development
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Useful, thanks admin.
This is a very useful article and tools for small business. I’ll use them for sure. Great way to do promotion.
Thanks!