You wouldn’t dream of starting as business without a plan. So why do so many business owners start social media campaigns without any real planning or strategy?

Typically, they start blogging, Tweeting, building Facebook pages and checking in on Foursquare simply because everyone else is doing it.

In other words, they approach social media marketing as if they were a kid playing with a shiny new toy. Ask a six year old what his “strategy” is in playing the toy truck and he’ll look at you like you were crazy.

Ask a small business owner what his social media strategy is, and you are likely to see the exact expression.
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Love it or hate it, Facebook is here to stay. With over 400 million Facebook users, there’s a massive untapped audience for your company’s or organization’s message. Your current customers/clients are on Facebook. Your prospective customers/clients are on Facebook.

Here are some of the most recent statistics:

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It has taken a while, but most major brands have made the decision to invest time, effort and manpower into social media efforts. When it comes to social media, some of the biggest brands have adapted impressively, while others have failed miserably.

Social media has grown exponentially in recent years and there is no sign that the growth is slowing down. As of the end of 2009, there were a combined 142 million social networkers on the top 10 social media sites. There are over 100 million users on Facebook alone!

What can social media do for established brands and for a new brand just trying to make a name for itself? Social media can: (more…)

The whole idea of social media marketing can be a bit overwhelming. People are connected to each other more than ever on social media platforms, creating conversation about your brand and industry.

There are so many platforms, so many choices and so many misconceptions. Companies that are smart and disciplined in all other areas of their business sometimes act irrationally due to their lack of expertise in this area.

Common mistakes include:

• Ignoring social media marketing because it is so foreign to them. Social networks and blogs are the 4th most popular online activities online, beating even personal email. 67% of global users visit member communities and 10% of all time spent on the internet is on social media sites. On a daily basis, individuals are talking about your brand, so companies better listen.

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