Which type of social network has been the most valuable to growing your small business?

If I had to chose one, I would say twitter. You can reach a broader audience. Hashtags help expand your audience beyond your "followers" and the character limit keeps it short and concise.

LinkedIn has to much self promotion. I don't like digging through a lot of junk to find something with great value. I think LinkedIn is great for a company's profile, but not for an individuals profile. These individuals usually speak in a social network, not a company.

Focus is great because it allows you to share your expertise on certain subjects and topics that involve business, but I don't know if they allow self promotion.

I think Twitter is the best for small businesses right now. Focus ranks second based on it's potential considering it's still young. And LinkedIn is 3rd. However, LinkedIn is a great place to see a company's info ie. employee size, employees, industry, location, company background, etc.

Facebook is for my close friends and not my business. I don't like it as a business forum.

Linkedin has been the most beneficial to me. It may not be as popular as Facebook or Twitter but it makes up for it by allowing me to reach my target market of potential clients faster and more efficiently. I also believe that my connections on Linkedin hold more value for doing business than my Twitter followers or my Facebook fans. In other words 1 Linkedin contact is worth about 100 fans on Facebook and at least 1000 Twitter followers. But I would have too also agree with Elizabeth S. It all depends on who your target market is (B2B or B2C) to determine what social strategy works best for your business.

I have always been a strong supporter of Facebook for B2C clients. About 9 months ago I worked with a small B2C client that was able to drive their existing database to their Facebook page for a sweepstakes. As part of the program, they were encouraged to refer their friends and receive extra credit. I have found in the past, that sweepstakes and special coupons exclusively for Facebook fans has helped generate greater interest. These type of programs begin a snowball effect that end up amplifying your brand's voice.

Historically I would go with Twitter, but recently (since it opened up more) Facebook has been killing it!

Facebook has always had more benefit to me and always proved fruitful especially if your hold numerous launch parties as it allows you to seek responses to invitations etc.

I was a freshman in college when Facebook came out. There was only a select group of universities who were allowed to use it. You had to have a school email address to be approved. Back then it was for your "social" network, implying other kids in my university. So my network grew around other kids my age and in my school. Now most of my network is full of kids I met in class, group projects, sporting events, bars, friends of friends, etc. So my network has nothing to do with the current business that I'm in now, so for me, Facebook serves no purpose for business. I have created another Facebook account for business because everything is separate between the two accounts. I'm finding it difficult to grow my network on my business account, but I guess that will change with time. So for me, Facebook is differently used by my generation. Twitter is the best social network right now for small businesses in my opinion, but Focus is closing in quickly...I guess I'm a little bias too.

Like Trevor, I started using facebook in college, but my experience after graduation has been different in that I attended a very small, very art-focused school, so as a graphic designer, my social contacts from college have remained valuable as a design professional since I now have a group of your up-and-coming artists (plus most of my professors) to network with via facebook.

To me it also depends on the country. E.g. In my country, people don't use Twitter much and therefore I have to choose Facebook to advertise my company products.

Depending on what is your target audience, and their behaviors and habits would decide your strategic social networks.

Great question. I would not be able to choose just one because they all work in tandem for the success of my business.

Amos,

Yes, that would be great if you want to test what is your strategic one. But choosing to many would cost you time and focus. Sometimes we should not go with the 'multiple options'.

Without a doubt, Linkedin! It regularly delivers very qualified leads from which we have a very high conversion ratio (in excess of 80%). Generally I think it depends on the type of business and your target market. We are a professional services company so the professionals and management who participate in Linkedin is perfect for us. You'll probably find Facebook/Twitter works better for B2C

Twitter has worked very well for us.

I believe you can't just plan on using one social media avenue. Your Social Media Marketing Plan should consist of a combination of Social Media Networks.
You should have complete profiles on at least these sites:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook (Business Page)

For Business - I say LinkedIn, absolutely is #1.
LinkedIn gives you an opportunity to join groups, ask and answer questions, converse with your group membership anytime you wish and apply a variety of applications to complete your online profile.

I with my short span of 6 months experience would prefer LinkedIn and Facebook.

It's Linkedin from where we get Maximum Traffic and and Proliferated our Vendor network to 5,000 plus mark that even in this short span of 6 months.

I might be good in Building and maintaining networks but would like to give credit to LinkedIn for my and my company USourceIT's Progress.

As far as Facebook is concerned in a month only we touched the count of 100 fans.and everyday discussions take place among various IT professionals across the Globe...Check out yourself only at : www.facebook.com/usourceit.

thanks and Regards

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