Shoppers Are Making More Purchases Based on Recommendations Received Through Social Media Sites

Here's a surprising statistic: 49% of Web users now make a purchase based on a recommendation they received through a social media site (like Facebook, MySpace, and so on).

Okay, maybe that's not so surprising, but you know what is? Apparently only 25% of online retailers created a Facebook page this year!

Despite its clear success rate, marketers have generally been slow to make the leap to social networking.

So if you haven't tested the social media waters, NOW is the time to get started!
Personally, I use Facebook.com, Twitter.com and MySpace.com to help promote and gain contacts for the Home Seller Assist program which is also known as We Provide The Cash, created by John Alexander.

Social networking is the perfect way to develop your online presence, and continue to cultivate lasting relationships with your potential customers. It's also, as the statistics show, a great way to start generating extra income!

But before you run off and start building your social networking profiles and pages, you should know that other forms of social media sites will also be crucial tools for your business in 2009.

Take the social bookmarking sites, for instance (like Digg, Delicious, and StumbleUpon).

Currently, 52% of people are using these sites as they search for information online, and a full 81% of users read the links marked as "most popular" or "most emailed."

So what does this mean for you? Another key strategy for you in 2009 will be to create lots of content, and get it to appear on these sites.

You're going to want to write articles that are relevant and useful... and that your readers will want to pass along to their friends, family, and colleagues, and recommend on the social bookmarking sites.

In doing so, you'll continue to raise your online profile, establish yourself as an expert in your field, and build those all-important relationships with your potential customers.

Now take a moment and visit MySpace.com, Facebook.com and Twitter.com and look for my name, Larry Potter, and join me and follow my posts and I will do the same for you.