Three Tips for Finding Customers Via Social Media When it comes to using sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to find customers, persistence and focus are vital.

By Diana Ransom

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

Three Tips for Finding Customers Via Social MediaFinding customers via a social media can seem like a mammoth -- or even ludicrous -- task, especially when time is such a precious commodity. But the numbers are hard to ignore: Facebook has more than 500 million users, while Twitter has more than 175 million. According to comScore, 171 million American Internet users watched online video content -- mainly at YouTube -- in January 2011 for an average of 14.5 hours per viewer. And then about 4 percent of adults who use the Web also use location-based services like Foursquare and Gowalla, noted the Pew Research Center.

To put it another way, millions of your potential customers are using these sites. Don't you think it's time you do too?

We asked Jeffrey Carr, a marketing professor and the executive director of New York University's Berkley Center for BIZ Experiencesial Studies to break out his best tricks for finding customers via social media. For even more of Carr's insights into finding customers, see our story: Using Social Media to Find the Right Customers.

Diana Ransom is the former deputy editor of BIZ Experiences.com.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.