News

Two Fifths Of Small Business People Reluctant To Make Business Connections On Facebook

25/01/2010

By Lea Pachta

Business Networking Trends Survey also reveals 80% have won business through networking online, but two thirds have concerns about security and integrity

WeCanDo.BIZ Limited, the online sales leads and business referrals network, has revealed the results of the second annual Business Networking Trends Survey. The results report is available as a free download from www.wecando.biz/surveyresults.php

The survey confirms that networking continues to play a key part in making small businesses successful. Entrepreneurs are most interested in using online networking sites to win more business, with over 80% reporting that they have achieved this to some degree. Further, 92% of respondents would recommend to their business contacts that they also network professionally online.

Nearly a quarter of small businesses are now using sites like Twitter for business networking. But 39% of small business professionals are wary of Facebook for business, refusing to add business contacts as 'friends' on the networking site. Just under half (48%) conduct their professional networking on specifically business focused social networks such as WeCanDo.BIZ, LinkedIn, Ecademy and Xing.

Compared to the previous survey using networks for research, business advice or career development is of much less interest than a year ago. There is also a drop in the number of respondents holding the view that online networks help them get closer to customers.

"This suggests that the business focused social networks majoring on discussions groups, finding answers and career development are poorly serving the small business community. says Ian Hendry, founder and CEO of WeCanDo.BIZ and author of the report.

[i]"What motivates entrepreneurs is real business. They want online networks to broker introductions to other professionals with a need for what they do. It may be a function of the recession that business people now expect a much more tangible return from the time they invest online. Clearly,... continued on page two >

Rate

Bookmark

•  Email this news to a friend
•  Print this news