You've jumped into social media and hopefully you're getting more comfortable and confident. Here's a quick list of some do's and dont's to keep in mind as you continue to learn and grow with social media. DO try new things. Mix it up and be innovative. DON'T be a fake. Take off the mask and be authentic. DO schedule time each week to dedicate to social media. DON'T be overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time and do the best you can with the resources available. DO hire marketing staff with experience in social media. DON'T give up. Results take time. DO take time to benchmark your ...

There are millions of posts, articles, and blogs dedicated to social media. But it's hard to find many references on how to track and evaluate your efforts. As budgets tighten and the economic pressures continue, the need to track social media results becomes more and more important. There are two main categories to consider when it comes to tracking:  website traffic and the conversations taking place. Tracking your results for social media is not like tracking your other marketing initiatives. It's not about return on investment (ROI). It's much more than that. It's about evaluating ...

Once your research and plan are complete, it's time for the exciting part-jumping into social media! Here are some tips to help guide you as you begin. Consistency is key: Use the same avatar, email address, and company info across all social platforms you are using. Organize: Upload your plan and research findings to GoogleDocs so that it's always available. Be sure to also write down and store your passwords in a safe spot. Provide relevant, useful, content: Be a resource for people. Give them great content and helpful information and they will keep coming back for more. Be ...

To make social media a beneficial component of your marketing mix, it is important to layout a detailed plan that will serve as your guide. A well thought out plan will save you time and effort in the long run. I've added my own ideas (in ital) to a recent post from Mashable that describes some steps to get you started: Step 1: Listen Social media is a term we use to to discuss the tools that facilitate conversations. Before your company can be a part of those conversations, you need to know what people are already talking about so you can determine how you can best contribute. Setting up ...

Including social media in your marketing mix for 2009 is a very smart move, but you may be wondering where do I start? Does my company have to have a presence on every social media site to be successful? The simple answer is no. As a company you have limited amount of resources and you need to be selective in which social media tools you choose to invest in. It is important to find the social media sites that are a natural fit for your target audience and for your company's vision and goals. Research should be your first step. To get an idea of what social media sites are the most ...

It's impossible to ignore the recent growth of social media giants like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Flickr. But you may be asking yourself: Why is social media important for my business? The key reason is that every day your customers are visiting these social sites. If your company does not have a presence on these sites, you are missing some very valuable opportunities to connect and engage with your customers. Utilizing social media can help your company increase and build brand awareness and loyalty. Data shows that consumers think more highly of companies who choose to engage in ...

As we usher in 2009, I'd like to welcome you to my new blog designed to provide you with useful tools, tips, articles, research, and advice on things you can do to leverage your business on the Web. Stay tuned for my upcoming series on getting your feet wet with social media. Topics include: Part 1: Understanding How Social Media Can Benefit Your Company Part 2: Look Before You Leap (Research) Part 3: Developing a Game Plan Part 4: Hitting the Ground Running Part 5: Tracking Your Results Part 6: Do's and Dont's ...