Due to being blinded by hype and caught in an emotional rush of excitement and hope, many small business owners have been jumping on the social media bandwagon.  As a social media consultant, I am anti-hype.  Don’t get me wrong, social media has opened many doors of opportunity for businesses, and it does touch every part of a business (not just marketing).  As small business owners you have to remember to not be easily swayed by  “shiny new tools” just because everyone is using them and thinks they are the “holy grail” of the online world.  It is paramount to look beyond the hype, take the time to learn the correct way to use social media, and implement the strategy that is suitable for your business.

If you’ve been observing what many companies are doing online, you’ve probably noticed that many brands have been tremendously succeeding with social media.  Did they succeed overnight?  Absolutely not. These brands have taken the time to understand social media as well as brainstormed and strategized before deciding to take the plunge. The truth is social media should always come last in any planning you do for your business.  It is also important to understand that social media is not the end-all solution to your business problems, and it should never be used as a replacement strategy or as a stand-alone.

There are 10 essential steps that need to be taken before you dive into social media.  One of my favorite mentors, Dr. Ivan Misner has listed them on “Networking Now,” an Entrepreneur.com blog — Looking Beyond the Hype to Get Started with Social Media.

Enjoy!