Beyond Social Networking to Profitable Community Empire

Yesterday I covered how social networking could be taken to the next profitable level, as in the participation level.  It’s inarguable, social networking participation is a key component of any social media marketing plan.  Yet, participation alone is not going to assist any small business in the powerful factors of dominating the influence factor in community.  Let me explain.

Yes, you can build a group on Facebook and possibly influence 200 to 1500 people at a time (that’s given all factors good).  Yes, you can even build a pseudo-niche social networking site on Ning, that is incredibly difficult to brand and market.  You can do all these thins to dip your feet into the power of social networking.  But in the end, there is a huge difference between social networking and leveraging it’s power — and building communities.  A real world example would be the difference between sub-leasing an apartment and actually owning the apartment building. Yes, you may build a minimum level of profits from sub-leasing, but what would your profitability be if you actually owned the building?

Beyond Niche Social Network Marketing to Profitable Community Building

There comes a point in every business’s life where a decision has to be made, do you continue to only leverage the power of third-party tools or do you create, build, and innovate to become the master of your own domain online?  It’s a thought provoking question, one that can not be taken lightly indeed.  But, it’s definitely one that should be one the mind of the online entrepreneur and business at some point in the game.

Social Networking Versus Community Building

Social networking is the art of influence, with very little level of impact on people’s daily lives or their human condition.  Community is the art of impact, whereby you’re able to affect the very core of someone’s being by providing something that connects them with others of the same “condition.”  Impact is powerful.

It’s the difference between influence and impact. And, friends, there is a difference.  Influence is the art of persuasion — it’s a process that is affected by many variables in a very complex equation (contrary to what the experts advise).  Influence works, and it can work well.  Impact works on a different, much more profitable level.

Influence builds revenues, impact builds multiple streams of profitable incomes. Impacting with community has much more potential (given other factors good) to build a business mutlipte streams of income (and other benefits coming shortly).  It’s the difference between participating under someone else’s terms and policies and actually creating them yourself.

Influence can be achieved easily, but impact is only achieved when you affect the “condition” of a human being. As you can imagine, impact is much more powerful than any other form of “marketing.”  It’s not easy to achieve, but the profitability rewards behind it are off the charts.

Expanding on the Power of Impact and Community Building

All this week, I’ll be covering how solopreneurs and small businesses can grab hold of creating impact, through community building.  It’s not easy, by any means.  But the return on investment, can hardly be achieved by any other form of marketing available.  And, it’s not about having a large pocket book either.  It’s more about what you do with the resources readily available to you, that can often times create the most impact.  And… it’s NOT your typical social media marketing strategy either.  Creating impact and building a community goes far beyond anything most so-called social media experts can even fathom.

Impact and Community Building Resources

First and foremost, check out these interviews held by Hollis Carter (co-creator of the Social Networking Empire) of top social networking CEO’s.  These are people who have created impact by building communities and have built significantly profitable empires going beyond just merely participating.

Then check out this video, the possibilities in creating your own impactful social networking empire.  Large or small, every business needs to cross this bridge and take a look at where they really want to go and how they really want to impact their business and their industry.

In case you missed it yesterday, check out my post on the power of influence in social networking and how you should be, AT LEAST, digger past the typical social media expert’s idea of social networking and digging deep into the power of influence in niche social networking.  It’s really about taking your social networking strategy to a whole new, profitable level.

And, check out our favorite picks for valuable information from across the Net regarding community and it’s impact on your bottom line.

Influence, Impact, and Outcome from CyTrap Labs

10 Ways to Make Money from Online Communities from Community Spark

Niche Social Networks Versus Networking in Social Networks from Three Minds

Considerations in Building a Social Network for small businesses and entrepreneurs from Peg Corwin

5 Ways to Attract Members to a Social Networking Site from Community Spark

Amex harnesses the power of community building with life changing ideas from AdWeek

Photo Credit:  JoeShlabonick on Flickr

Related Diva Posts:

• Doing Social Media Marketing Right with Nancy Marmolejo
• Social Networking Taken to the Next Profitable Level
• Web Success Diva’s Facebook Disabled for Nudity?
• Social Media is About Communities Not Technology
• Success in Social Media: Defining Your Business Goals and Observing

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