What Social Media is Part of your Marketing Plan?

... From Biz2Biz NWA February 2009

By Jacqueline Wolven / Moxie Marketing / Eureka Springs

If you are a small business owner, entrepreneur or freelance guru you might want to consider which Social Media components you are going to add to your marketing plan for the coming year. The great thing about Social Media is that it is FREE. The worst part is that it all takes time and often we don’t have much of that to spare. It’s smart business to be savvy about online developments, and with a little effort you can see great rewards.

The most important Social Media tools to use to grow your small business are having a blog, using LinkedIn to connect to your network, and using Twitter. The total cost is minimal – you can have a free blog or host one inexpensively through your website host (call them they will be happy to get you started). LinkedIn and Twitter are free. We suggest one hour a week to get started. So little money and little time, you are now probably wondering what is the big reward.

• A larger, better connected social network
• Search Engine Optimization for your website & brand
• Excitement about your products in the market
• Business growth from unexpected areas

That should be enough for you to get started doing all three, but we can hear you now saying that you don’t have the technical expertise, the time or the interest. In that case, hire your Social Media out to another freelancer – someone who can help you build your brand while you are out there doing what you love. The costs are low and you can easily find a professional in your community who can help you – and you can track the investment!

So, you can hire it out or you can get started yourself – either way, don’t miss this boat! Social Media isn’t about to disappear and the sooner you get your brand, products or ideas out there the better positioned you will be.

Author/ expert Jacqueline Wolven, "The Smartest Girl in the Room,” offers marketing and public relations to passionate small businesses throughout the US and NW Arkansas. Email questions to jacqueline@moxieworks.net