Social media is pervasive. We use it to talk about our small businesses, to provide customer service and to listen to what our customers have to say. Our employees use it too. Social media is in and about our businesses. Here are some tips for running a business in a social media world.
Latest Tips
Trends to follow. Looking for the latest trends to follow in social media to bring greater effectiveness to your business model? It could be as simple as being yourself and learning to use the tools at hand. Fox Small Business Center
Four practices to live by. If you’re not doing these four things, you may soon regret it. Not only is social media a powerful weapon in your arsenal, but using it effectively is critical to your success. Small Business Trends
Best Practices
Social media can be a drain. Don’t let it drain you of critical time you need to attend to other aspects of your business. Here are some suggestions to keep you effective while saving time in your social media efforts. Business2Community
Manage your community before it manages you. Don’t start communities you can’t maintain. Social media can be a wonderful opportunity for your small business, but be sure you stay on top of the conversation. BBC News Business
User’s Guide
Double or nothing. Using social media shouldn’t mean abandoning your e-mail marketing efforts. In fact, used correctly, the two approaches can help each other in your social media efforts. 5 NBC Chicago
LinkedIn bigger than Twitter. Do you use Twitter or LinkedIn for your small business efforts? Would it surprise you to learn that LinkedIn is the more popular of the two with small businesses. Marketing Pilgrim
Operations
Rules for small business employees? Do you have rules for the things your employees post to social media? Should you? You may be surprised as some of the advice here. Washington Post
Why you don’t really need a formal policy. This post puts it a bit more succinctly. While you obviously don’t want employees hurting your business online, a policy isn’t necessarily the answer. PayScale
More Trends
Some small businesses still cautious. Some small businesses are still worried about getting social media wrong. As a result, many are delaying getting involved, even though they know the clear benefits. Tax Assist Accountants
Things you should already be doing. Not to send you into a panic or anything, but if you’re not already doing these things, the obvious question is, why not? Here are trends your business should be aware of. Rutland Herald
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Sarah
A really good post. Brilliant tips especially the ones about how Social media can be a drain and how to keep you effective while saving time in your social media efforts.
Mary
Excellent post! I agree especially about how many small businesses are afraid of doing anything in Social Media, so they do nothing and get left out of the loop, while their competition takes over their customers.