Social networking sites are a sign of the times.  Common, everyday conversation includes the phrases, “Check out my new MySpace page,” and “Are you on Facebook?”  People of all ages use these pages to connect with old friends, meet someone new, and eliminate the distance between them and their loved ones.  Celebrities even use pages to become closer to their fans.  Where else can you reach hundreds of thousands of people with the click of a mouse?  Take the guesswork out of promoting your site by using these sites to your advantage.  While most social networks limit contact to registered users only, some offer message boards where the public can sound off about the issues that concern them most.

There are some things you can do to increase social network traffic to the site of your choice.  Follow along as you get a lesson in Social Network Advertising 101:

• Bold, emblazoned messages with controversial titles are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Be careful when choosing the subject because just about anything can be considered politically incorrect these days. Use all caps to spell out the most important idea that you are trying promote. Make sure to post it in a place with high visibility. Once one person reads your post, another will surely follow. Friends will forward your message to other friends who will forward your message to everyone in their network. Voila! You become an instant online celebrity!

• If you have a business of your own, offer a promotion of some sort and link it back to your page. Hold a monthly contest and take pictures of the cool thing that you are giving away. You will not believe the incredible power that giveaways have for increasing traffic to a site. The lure of getting something free or cheap appeals to everyone. Use that knowledge to your advantage and get people on your site. It may cost you a few dollars of your own money but it will definitely be worth it

• Link your site to keywords in your post. People cannot refrain from clicking on underlined phrases. Out of sheer curiosity, they will want to know why you highlighted certain words or sentences. With the click of a mouse, they will be sent directly to the source to ask you why themselves.

• Reply and reply often. Post replies to other people’s messages. Keep them short and light-hearted. Include a link to your own site. Encourage other people to learn more about you by visiting your page.

Posting messages on social networking sites can increase traffic to your own site easily.  Take the time to research your options and only post in places that are readily available to the public.  Follow the tips listed above and don’t be afraid to make it big, bold, and even scary.  Do whatever it takes to get noticed and there will be no doubt that you will become an internet sensation.