Will social networking sites increase my sales?

We've been having a lot of discussions lately about the merits and pitfalls of joining a social networking site to promote your business.

I've recently joined Twitter and am finding it a mine of useful information for manage my website. "Tweets" from marketing, SEO and web professionals often contain links to advice, hot topics and services that are invaluable to any related business. In turn, we are utilising new information to continue providing a proactive service to our clients and ensure we're always up to date with industry issues. Twitter is also a great way to source specialists in niche markets for those projects that are slightly out of the ordinary.

Most of us at manage my website are also on Facebook, which we tend to use on a far more personal level to keep in touch with friends/contacts. It's physically impossible to interact with each and every one of these people on a one to one basis, so when manage my website was launched, Facebook was the perfect vehicle to use. You can also set up Groups and Events which can also be used to promote your business.

For either of these sites and most other similar ones, whether you open up your profile for the whole world to see, or limit it to only be viewed by your contacts is up to you. But there are two things to bear in mind when using social networking sites for marketing purposes:

(a) Choose your photograph or image carefully... you won't look professional if the photo was taken at midnight at your cousin Dave's wedding, clutching a pint of lager and the Chief Bridesmaid.

(b) Beware what you "Tweet". If you want potential clients or suppliers to take you seriously, it might be best not to discuss how rough you feel after a vindaloo, 3 bottles of wine and 2 hours sleep...