3 reasons to use social niche marketing

Yup, it's 2012. And by now, everyone knows that developing and maintaining a presence on the big social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, is an essential part of engaging with your brand's audience. But, there is also great value in networking on smaller sites that host a niche market. Here are the top three reasons why building your presence on a niche social networking site is a great idea.

Niche network  =   members share you interests
It is a target rich environment. Meaning that the connections you'll make will most likely be with people interested in your product or blog, which will instantly focus your networking efforts. For instance, if you are selling hair accessories, hang out on a hair and beauty forum. You are sure to connect with many people who love to purchase products just like yours

Smaller community size  =  greater potential for your voice to be big

As long as the site's members are active, a smaller membership size is actually better. By participating in group discussions and commenting on the activities of members, you will establish yourself as knowledgeable and engaging within the community. This will draw interest to you and your business.

Profile pages + forum signatures  =  free traffic flow

Every one of these sites is going to give you the opportunity to fill out a profile and include your website links. Just the act of doing that will probably get you some traffic. And, the more quality interaction you have within the community, the more people will visit your profile and click through to your blog or shop.

Whether you are a stay at home mom that blogs or a jewelry maker, rest assured that there is an online community out there just waiting to hear from you. Women who run creative businesses should come join the thriving web forum at The Switchboards. Artists can head over to devianart to network with their peers. Or, if you are into diy/crafts, start chatting it up with other do-it-yourself enthusiasts at curbly or the instructables forum. 

Here is a huge list of niche social networking sites to get you started. Try joining one, and spending 5 or 10 minutes a day interacting with the community. This small time investment could lead to some amazing networking opportunities.


This article was contributed by team member Evey from the upcycled home decor shop nashpop. She writes about her thrifting adventures and upcycled creations at the nashpop blog. Make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.