If you are unfamiliar with social networks, social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online. This is due to the fact that unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions even approaching a billion of individuals who are looking to meet other people, to gather and share first-hand information and experiences about any number of topics . . . from golfing, gardening, developing friendships, professional alliances and even your business.

So how can building a social network benefit your business? Online social networking is the newest weapon to generate more customers. In a recent study conducted by Compete an online research company, found that three out of every four people using the Web visited a social networking site. These websites have had a 109% growth since 2004 and have seemed to show no signs of stopping. Compete found that sites like Facebook or MySpace have shown to increase the awareness of your business and in return it has led to an increase of sales in almost all businesses that use these sites, that is if they are used correctly. There are plenty of social networking websites geared towards the entrepreneur and established businesses such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Nowadays the hard part isn't finding a service, but finding the right way to use these websites. Positive Results Marketing has developed a program for every business model that can generate an effective response regardless of what type of business or service your company offers.

Social networking may sound fluffy, but it can translate into a real benefit for you and your company. William Baker, a professor of marketing at San Diego State University, surveyed 1,600 executives and found that firms that rely heavily on external social networks scored 24 percent higher on a measure of radical innovation than companies that don't. Online networks can help you hire the right people, be hired by consumers who are in the market for your product or service and effectively market your existing or even new products. Currently 75% of all internet users visit a social network site, there is no other form advertisement or media that has the ability to reach this many consumers.

Positive Results Marketing offers expertise in 6 categorizes in the world of social networking that can be used to effectively manage you social networking campaign:

• Social media news and marketplace developments
• Social media objectives
• Social media strategies and the best practices for your business
• Resourcing and Trends/”Buzz Monitoring”
• Metrics, Measurement, and Management
• Essential PR tools and the newest technologies