Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram. It goes without saying you’ve probably heard of (and are more than likely present on) at least a few of these social media sites. You might even be testing the waters of Vine! Whatever the case may be, our Westchester NY social media team knows there are a great deal of social networking sites out there and simply not enough time to be active on all of them.

You know what? That’s OK! In fact, businesses who overstretch themselves by trying to be active on too many social networking sites at once often find themselves overwhelmed and feeling lost.However, it’s always a good business practice to keep your eyes and ears peeled on up-and-coming social networking sites. That’s why we’ve put together this list of lesser-known social networking sites to keep on your radar. Who knows? One of these may be the “new Facebook” one day!

1. Quora. This is by far one of our favorites for the simple fact that it allows you to establish yourself as a trusted thought leader in your industry and build relationships in the process. Quora is dubbed a “Q&A community” in the sense that anyone who wants to learn about any topic can ask questions and receive answers. Let’s say you’re a personal trainer. You can create a profile on Quora, blog about the health and fitness industries, search for questions people have regarding these areas and answer away! Providing quality and engaging content will leverage your reputation as a knowledgeable go-to source for all things health and fitness related. Another reason to be on Quora? Your content is likely to be picked up by Google, boosting rankings in a Google search. Not a bad deal!

2. Sulia. Somewhat similar to Quora, Sulia connects you the top industry social sources on topic you want to learn more about. These trusted sources are strategically sought out by Sulia to ensure the best quality content possible is provided. A great tool for learning the latest and hottest topics in any area, Sulia is an excellent resource for staying on top of topics you hold most important and connecting you with other like-minded people.

3. Stumbleupon. Although Stumbleupon has been around for some time now, this addicting content-discovery site has recently become more business-friendly by actually giving users the ability to select their target audience before releasing their content. Stumbleupon is very user-friendly social bookmarking site and allows users to explore their interests which come in the form of content from millions of different resources. Stumbleupon is a great way to share  and distribute your content, whether in the form of a link to your website or blog post.

4. Keek. Deemed a “smaller YouTube,” Keek is a mobile app has also been compared to Vine in the sense that it allows you to share your content in the form of short video clips. While we think Vine is a blast, Keek allows for longer videos (36 seconds vs. 6 seconds on Vine), which is preferred by users who like to share their blogs on video (vloggers). Keek content can be shared to other social networking sites with ease and is hashtag-friendly, too!

The world of social networking is one that grows and changes each day! Not every social networking site is meant for everyone, but it’s still important to stay “in the know” on the ever-evolving social platforms that are available. These happen to be our top picks. What are yours? Share your lesser-known social networking sites with us!

Each week I find new smart phone applications for my iPhone that will make my life easier.  I’ve found 2 great new applications that I’ve come to really enjoy and find extremely helpful and thought others would too! Wherever you may live, you will benefit from these fantastic, user-friendly location based applications.

How many times have you showed up to your favorite store, coffee shop or restaurant and had to wait when you really didn’t have the time or patience to do so? Well, Localmind will save you time and reduce frustration by giving you that “know before you go!” heads up. After downloading and setting up an account with Localmind, you ask questions to other Localmind users near you about specific locations, and receive answers from real human beings at that specific location. For example I could post a question like, “What’s the best driving route to take from downtown Manhattan to Westchester County during rush hour?” “Is there a long line at Starbucks in White Plains?” “What’s a good safe place to park if I’m spending a few days in Manhattan?” or “Can you recommend a good bar around here?” The possibilities are endless, and I’ve personally gotten great, fast and helpful feed back!

Localmind is available for iPhone and Android users.

Visit http://www.localmind.com/businesses to personally find out how Localmind can benefit your business, as well!

Another application that I would highly recommend is Sonar. Sonar is a great networking tool for both business and pleasure. It gathers all your Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Instagram and linkedIn friends into a database and helps you to discover new people with whom you share online connections to and who are in close proximity to you (even if they don’t have the Sonar application.) Sonar even lets you view and check into nearby places allowing you to expand your Sonar Network of friends. This application can really help to expand your social networks and provide endless opportunities for connecting with new and interesting people.