The world of social media can seem very daunting, especially to managers and business owners who may have heard of Facebook and blogs but have never participated in them and don’t really know how they work or more importantly. , its value within marketing. mixture.

So when Richard MacManus, founder of ReadWriteWeb, a blog that provides web technology news, reviews and analysis and has a following of approximately 275,000 email and RSS subscribers, made his web predictions for 2009, it was no surprise that many of they will involve social networks. . Some of his predictions included iTunes adding social networking features, Facebook signing up for OpenSocial, the introduction of apps that have plugins for Twitter and Facebook, and media outlets experimenting with different types of online advertising (perhaps with their own? social media?)

So you know you need to add social networking and social media to your 2009 marketing mix, but how do you get started? Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Digg, Twitter, Ning – the list of sites is endless. But which ones are right for you? It all depends on which ones are right for your client.

So many options, so little time.

Just like any other marketing promotion, your social media program needs a strategy that includes measuring your ROI. Many people are becoming more involved in social networking sites and blogs simply because they have heard of them, such as Facebook and MySpace. Instead, you need to think about what you want to accomplish here. Looking to connect with existing customers? Do you want to find qualified and quality prospects? Are you hoping your existing customers can open the social media door to new opportunities? Will you engage and interact with your customers online or just post ideas and thoughts? Are you hoping to gather new ideas from your social network or are you expected to be the think tank of the group? Once you have determined the reasons why want to incorporate social media into your marketing plans, the next step is to join some.

Creating your profile.

Clicking through to a site like Facebook or LinkedIn can be a bit intimidating at first. You have no “connections” (people who view your profile or have found to connect with), your profile is empty, and you’re wondering why anyone would want to connect with you online. Please take your time to review the profile section of the site.

Remember, think about who you want to connect and network with. Then, personalize your profile so that the clients you are looking for find you. Do you want to get involved with groups looking for innovative technology? Will you be the leader of a group offering tips and strategies for the latest in CRM technology? What makes you a Super VAR? By reading your profile, a potential new customer or customer will know immediately based on what you write.

Making the Connections.

Now is the time to start looking for people you know within the network. This will give you the opportunity to explore the site with people you know and trust. Allow yourself to get comfortable with the way the social part of the network works. Remember, everyone was a newbie once, so make connections with those who can help you at first. LinkedIn is a site geared towards making business connections. Twitter allows you to follow someone or be followed. Facebook and MySpace offer community environments. You will be surprised how many people you will find who are interested in the same things as you. Look for like-minded and like-minded people.

Just like at a 4th of July party or picnic, you will start chatting with someone and who knows where the conversation will go. Social media is simply an amazing marketing tool to nurture relationships with current customers and find new ones. Who are you linked to?