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RSSConduct research. Run any basic search on social tagging networks such as Delicious or Digg. On complex topics, you're likely to surface more meaningful information than you would in a Google search because it's been tagged by expert users. Think of it as handpicked topic results based on user votes, similar to the way retail sites, such as Amazon, surface favorite products based on community votes.
Gather user feedback. Researching opinions, such as product feedback, is another crafty, low-cost way to use social network sites for information. Log on to Twitter right now to find all the consumer feedback you want on the movies released this past weekend; on what people think of their AT&T cell phone service; or their outlook on the economy.
If you don't find information on the topic you're looking for, throw out a question to the community on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, or any other network. Encourage a few members in your network to forward the question to extend its reach. Before you know it, you'll have quality insights that might have taken weeks to gather through traditional consumer research methods.
Find opinion leaders. Another great benefit of using social networks is that you can identify and build relationships with opinion leaders and trend setters that can be invaluable for testing or diffusing information. I realized how useful these networks can be when I saw a posting on Facebook from a reporter looking for interviewees for a news segment. He was quickly able to find volunteers who fit his target and wanted to be on TV.
Some will argue that results can be biased since some networks are skewed to certain behavioral types, such as technology enthusiasts, and to those more willing to share their opinions. So although these searches shouldn't replace your primary research, they offer an excellent gut check to make sure you're headed in the right direction, or give you some new ideas. It's also a great way to find people to interview for your primary research.
Next time you have a question, and you're on your way to Google, take a detour to Delicious, Digg, Facebook, Imeem, or Twitter. You might be surprised by what you find, and that could be a wonderful thing.
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RSS FEEDS
It usually doesn't take much effort to determine if the social user runs a site or blog. From there, an email message showing genuine appreciation for their support of your company/product/service with a request to consider linking to and/or writing/blogging about and linking to your site.
This strategy helps make every email count when implementing a link building strategy.
As a writer and speaker, I am always looking for resources online, especially experts for quotes, etc.
Thank you for your suggestions on the alternatives to my usual search methods.
Have a delightful day!