Social Media refers to web-based tools that enable individuals to build large networks online through the publishing of content. Really the only way to get your head around it is to start doing it!

Obvious tools that most people are aware of are social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, You Tube, Linked In and more recently Twitter.

Social Media also refers to tools that can be applied to any web site such as Live Chat, Forums, Blogs, Voting applications etc. Allowing users to publish feedback on products or their purchasing experience, or perhaps vote for their favourite products gives you insight into what your customer, wants and doesn't want and also adds credibility to your offering.

The single most powerful thing about Social Media, apart from that it's FREE, is it's ability to generate awareness and word of mouth. It provides you the ability to tap into large networks of like-minded individuals from your desktop any time anywhere.

The trick to making the most of Social Media like any marketing is to only publish, relevant, interesting, valuable information and insights to people in your network. You can't just be focussed on flogging your offering. Your goal should be to create a community around your business through an authentic dialogue with that community.

From my own forays into Social Media I discovered a fantastic FREE e-book on Social Media for Small Business For a visual overview of how Twitter works to connect you with others see a great diagram by online retailer and guru of all things cool REMO

Still a sceptic? Here's a great example on how Social Media can deliver real results to business, read how a coffee shop owner doubled their turnover using Twitter.

I also know that through my own social networking activities that I've increased traffic to my web site and delivered other benefits to my business.

So get started - follow me on Twitter, and get some of your own followers. Maybe some of you are already social media converts and can share a story on how Social Media has delivered real results to your business?

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