I have been ‘hearing’ this question all over the Internet. It’s important for businesses to be a part of this explosive new era, Social Media Marketing. But before I get ahead of myself lets get to ‘what is social media?’

You’ve probably heard about LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, Twitter, Squidoo and others. All of these and many more encompass social media. This new type of communication is a unique form of Internet marketing which strives to build your branding. You participate by writing quality content and comments that match your communication goals with newsworthy and interesting material. Social media utilizes networking and user-generated platforms to communicate, while gently promoting a product or service.

Where is the best place to start? Have you heard the saying ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket?’ This is true to social media. Start with about three to four networks. You don’t want to spread yourself too thin. The top three networks are currently Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For the fourth network you may want to chose a niche site where your target audience frequently visits. You can also use your blog to supplement these networks with valuable content. You need to be sure you are sticking to your outlined plan as it is very easy to get distracted with all the applications within each network.

Creating your profile. Be sure you take your time when creating your profiles. Provide your website links, use your keywords and provide a good bio. This is your one chance to catch the eye of audience, make it a good impression. You can have a expert help you with setting up your profiles for optimum results.

Your business blog. There are many online platforms where you can connect with your target audience. Your business blog being one of the most important. Use your blog to incorporate different types of media such as audio and video. Then use the social bookmarking sites to spread the word about your content. Also look for niche forums, wikis and online communities that will bring you great opportunities. Other valuable places to share your content are Squidoo and HubPages. When posting on multiple platforms be sure that you are providing original content, do not copy and paste.

Analytics. The last part, and be sure not to skip it, is the analytics piece. You can use tools to measure your campaign’s effectiveness. You need to see what is working and what needs adjustment or tweaking. Analytics can take a lot out of your schedule but it is necessary. You can have your social media specialist create your analytic reports. Your specialist can then offer suggestions on how to improve your current campaign.

Social media will bring your brand to your target audience, you will interact with them and learn from them. Ask questions and you will see exactly what your customers are looking for. By being create and unique you will be off to a successful campaign..

This new era can change the way people see your business. It can get your name out there and improve or start your online reputation management. Now is the time to act on this new era before your competition does.

The only limitation is your imagination.

Social media has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years. New platforms emerging and trends changing all within this short time. Many companies have joined in on this social networking and have seen great results.

Social media marketing is unique and growing like wildfire. It is unlike the traditional marketing methods in many ways. Social networking is about help the users, the audience. Giving them reliable information, exciting news and events, and letting them know you’re listening to what they have to say.

Here are the recent statistics from Marketing Charts on how many are joining in on the social media excitement. I find it very interesting to watch the numbers. You can get a feel for how much experience your competition has by doing some in-depth research. You can also determine where and what they are doing and this will help you when you begin the planning stages of your campaign.

As you can see social media is growing and is about to hit an all time high. Social media networking, or social networking some call it, can have a huge benefit for you business. This is the time to “get in the game” and start making a difference. Start with the research, create a structured plan with specific and measurable goals. Then put your plan into action. Be sure you go through an evaluation period as well after about 30 days and see what is working and what you need to improve on.

If social media seems like a foreign language to you then you should consider seeking the assistance of a social media consultant who can walk you through the important concepts of social media. Giving you a good over view and understanding to get out there and share your knowledge and build your brand.