Social media marketing is a booming trend, so it’s no wonder that it’s easier than ever to find all of your favorite brands on popular websites like Twitter and Facebook. Businesses of all sizes are relying on social media to improve customer communication since social networking is much more efficient and cost effective than communicating via the telephone or e-mail.

If you’re a customer that has a concern, question, or a comment, you can reach out to the majority of brands through social media in a matter of seconds. On top of that, since brands are relying on social media for marketing purposes, many top businesses are giving their customers rewards for following them on Twitter or liking them on Facebook.

Here are a few top benefits you can receive from following your favorite brands in social media:

1. You can be heard. Rather than sending an e-mail to a business or even participating in a survey, you can post your comment or tweet a response in just a few seconds. Since most businesses are new to the social media plunge, it’s likely that you’ll receive a response within a few hours or even a day to your question or concern.

On top of that, since Twitter is a public website, a business won’t want other customers to see a public customer concern that hasn’t been dealt with. If you’re posting on a public social media website, a business is much more likely to respond to you than if you just send an e-mail.

2. You can find out about special deals and contests. Brands are more excited than ever to use social media to promote specials, giveaways, and contests. Even mega brands like Verizon have leaned heavily on social media by using hashtags on Twitter to promote a series of giveaways to drum up sales from new customers.

If you have a favorite brand, it literally pays to stay in the know and use social media to take advantage of discount offers you can’t find anywhere else.

3. You can eliminate confusion. If you’re confused about a company’s new product or how to take advantage of a coupon, you can post a question on Facebook to receive a near immediate response. This is much more effective than visiting forums with answers from other Internet users.

Why rely on another customer’s speculation or perspective when you can go to the horse’s mouth and get your answer directly from the brand through social media? Even better, you won’t have to worry about staying on hold with a company for minutes on end to get the help you need.

4. You can become part of the bigger picture. Starbucks is one of the leading brands in social media, and they have taken the next step by introducing the forum My Starbucks Idea. The amazing thing about this forum is that customers are allowed to post their ideas and suggestions, and Starbucks actually listens.

This is a brilliant strategy on behalf of Starbucks. Customers everywhere are impressed that they are being heard by a large corporation, and Starbucks is getting great ideas for free that they can use for product development.

Guest Author:  Bethany Ramos is an expert in Internet marketing and social media marketing, and she also co-owns her own e-commerce website, The Coffee Bump.

Since the first point-of-sale terminals hit retail and restaurant locations around the country in 1979, credit card processing technology has continued to make large leaps forward with both advantages and disadvantages to business owners. The latest jump has been gaining traction in the last 24 months and promises to revolutionize the merchant services industry in the near future.

Credit card processing firms, fortune 500 companies, the nation’s largest banks, and a number of enterprising entrepreneurs have been pouring billions of dollars into a new technology called mobile processing. The idea of mobile processing is simple: allow a merchant or individual to process, pay or manage their payments on the go and from their mobile devices.

Mobile Processing for Businesses

One of the simplest applications for mobile processing comes from the co-founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, who in 2009 started a new company called Square (www.squareup.com). Square allows an individual or business to accept a swiped credit card using nothing but their iPhone/Android phone and a little card reader that attaches directly to the device’s headphone jack. The unit is no bigger than a silver dollar and allows credit card transactions to be processed at the cheaper swiped rate versus a keyed in card.

Square mobile processing is unique because it carries with it fixed rates regardless of the card type. Small business owners who have had bad experiences with processing firms and are tired of dealing with difficult to understand processing statements may find the simplicity refreshing. However, Square’s limitation comes from the total processing amount allowed per merchant. The initial limit is only $1000 per month, which is a very small amount for any organization operating full time.

For business owners that are looking for a little more flexibility and processing volume, a new device called ROAMpay is a great alternative to Square. ROAMpay is not a processor and will not manage a business merchant account. Instead, their equipment will work together with a merchant’s current processing company and allow for mobile processing directly from an employee’s smartphone.

The major advantage a small business will see from mobile processing is the reduced cost when accepting a credit or debit card away from a standard terminal. Processing companies charge extra fees for cards that are keyed in rather than swiped because the likelihood of fraud is greater. Service-based businesses, especially those done off-site, will potentially see the greatest benefit.

Consumer Behavior is Changing

Mobile payment processing is not only changing the way business is done, it is also changing the way that consumers pay for goods and services. In the last decade, MasterCard introduced Near-Field Communication technology into some of their credit cards that allowed a consumer to simply waive their card in front of a NFC equipped point-of-sale terminal rather than handing their card over for processing. This technology was reserved for gas stations and supermarkets at first, but has gained popularity with other retail businesses in the last few years.

Google Wallet has taken the same Near-Field Communication technology and started putting them into their smartphones. These phones allow a consumer to attach a credit card to their smart phone’s NFC chip and simply wave their phone in front of the same properly equipped POS terminals.

This is important for small businesses, especially in the retail sector, because it shows a shift in consumer behavior and expectations. There were many small business owners that refused to accept credit cards due largely in part to the excess fees. However, as more and more consumers began expecting a merchant to accept them, it forced business owners to adapt in order to compete.

Guest Author: Eric Stauffer is a writer for CardPaymentOptions.com. Their focus is to help small business owners navigate the murky waters of the credit card processing and merchant services industry.

What started as a mere trend several years ago has now evolved into its own culture. Social commerce is gaining popularity by leaps and bounds in the virtual world and shows no signs of slowing down. Selling products online was once reserved for major retailers with massive inventories and the selling power to reach the masses. Now, thanks to sites like eBay, web stores, and applications for social media platforms such as Facebook, anyone can market and sell their products online.

Having a successful social commerce campaign hinges on a number of factors. It’s not something you should venture into blindly without having done at least some minimal research. Although once you get your ecommerce campaign up and running, it can run on autopilot to some extent. However, there are certain areas in which you always have to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to selling your products online.

Let’s take a look at the four most important ingredients in a successful social commerce campaign:

A Multifaceted Approach

Simply using one or two of the array of free social media tools available today won’t get you very far in your social commerce campaign. The key to making these tools work for your brand is not just using them, but using them in tandem with other avenues of marketing to gain maximum exposure. Add Facebook and Twitter widgets to your business website and blog. Add links to your website and blog to your Facebook Fan Page and Storefront and your Twitter account. Tweet about sales, promotions, new products and services. Blog about these events as well and announce the blog updates on your Fan Page. Let everything you do online reciprocate what you’ve already done, allowing the campaign to come full circle.

Get Personal

Customers want to feel like their opinions matter and achieving that strengthens the bond between the buyer and the seller. Try to involve your customers in your business as much as you can. Constantly ask for feedback about their experiences and take their suggestions. Ask them to vote on which products should be introduced next and which services they would like you to offer in the future. Asking for their opinion lets your customers know that you are listening to them, which works to establish brand loyalty. On the flipside of that, don’t forget to interact with your fans on a personal level. Respond to their comments and posts. Let them know you’re reading and listening.

Reward That Loyalty

Reward your loyal social media followers with exclusive discounts and specials that are not available to other customers. Not only does this show your appreciation for your loyal followers, it also provides the incentive for them to recommend your brand to others.

Don’t Oversell

Instead of always posting about products you have for sale, ask questions or create polls to get your customers involved. Share relevant industry news or even some candid insights into your personal life. If your company is involved in other events or causes, let your fans know it. Random trivia, current events and human interest stories are always good conversation starters. Yes, the point of social commerce is selling your products and services, but nobody likes high pressure tactics or feeling like they’re being “sold” to all the time.

Guest Author: Helen Fang is the social media expert at Vendio, an ecommerce software company that enables online businesses to sell on Facebook, eBay, Amazon, and Google from one platform.

It is fair to say that most consumers consider Google and Facebook the Internet in its entirety.  While they may be aware of other sites, when they think about the Internet, what they are thinking about is one of the above corporate giants. Social networking has been around for a long time. One of the first online communities was “The Well,” which still exists and was created in 1985 as an extension of the “Whole Earth Catalog.” MySpace, Xanga, and many others were very popular until the Facebook juggernaut took over the entire Internet. So will there be only one search engine or a single social network in the end?

The Faceless Book

It was not too long ago that Facebook was, while successful, just one of a number of social networking sites that people used to keep track of friends, communicate, and post pictures and messages. Friendster, MySpace, Xanga, Classmates, and others all served different demographics and markets.

Facebook on the other hand was originally a social network strictly built for Harvard students, and because exclusivity breeds desire, it led to Facebook expanding to include all Ivy League students. It later expanded again to include all college students of any school, and, finally, anyone with an Internet connection. This “forced scarcity” and tiered rollout created a huge demand and now we have the Facebook of today.

Facebook now claims to have 500 million users, which, if true, constitutes 25 percent of all Internet users. The other social sites have faded fast and while some have survived, many are no longer in business. With the social networking side of things well in hand, and Google the largest gateway to the web, Romulus and Remus rule us all and we are experiencing the end of the Internet. Or is it?

The Little Guys Strike Back

Like Twitter, Facebook has become awash with companies and individuals seeking to make a name for themselves, generate sales, and drive traffic to their sites; however, nothing could be more annoying. A certain amount of that is to be expected, but when the party population is more networkers than friends, it starts to go flat, and for this reason, other sites are starting to strike back.

Angie’s List is a good example. The website serves as a clearinghouse for reports and reviews on services rendered by contractors in order to aid others in finding good help and avoiding bad service. The company’s recent television ad campaign is proof that it is not fading. Recently a rush of sign-ups for Quora and Aardvark exploded; these websites provide question and answer services in which people can ask a question and get answers from other people on the network.

Increasingly, other social media efforts are gaining back the ground that Facebook claims to own. Actual social networking sites like Path and CollegeOnly are gaining momentum by limiting membership and limiting the number of friends a user can have; up to 50 in the case of Path. These sites are indications of a trend; people are looking to get away from the giant crowd and to a more personal place.

Create Your Own Social Network

SocialGo and Ning are not social networking sites, but they could be the beginning of the end of Facebook’s domination. With services ranging from free to $150 a month, anyone can create their own social network. Do you really want a stranger watching you share pictures with your family in Oregon?  Why not create a social network for only your family and friends and end the problem. Facebook has many privacy issues and this is a clear answer to most of them. Are you an avid Fly Fisher? There is a site for that called Troutpad, as a site exists for just about any hobby or interest.

Facebook may have created the social network as a popular new “Killer App” for the Internet, but the future may not belong to them. History buffs will remember that at the turn of the twentieth century, America fought back against monopolies and won. Maybe it is time for that to happen again only this time users can do it for themselves. There are many alternatives out there and users are starting to find them. The social networking monopoly, or claimed monopoly, will be temporary and people will begin to break off into more exclusive, “walled communities” that are private and safer driven by the increasing security threats and information privacy issues. Teens used Xanga as a way of keeping away from parents eyes. Perhaps the adults are doing the same thing.

Guest Author: Jon T. Norwood is a managing partner at Broadband Internet, a site dedicated to providing information on Mobile Broadband News.  Jon can be reached at jon@velocityguide.com.

As many of you a while back I won a seat on the SmartBrief on Social Media Board was awarded the role of poll analyst. Let me tell you, time really flies when you are having fun because I have already written 20 analyses.  Where are the weeks going?

Below, I gathered the synopsis of all 20 analyses for my readers (Please click on the title to be taken to the full analysis). I would love to hear which analysis was the most helpful to you.  Please share in the comments below.

Do consumers want to be treated as individuals?

This was the analysis that helped me win the SmartBrief contest.  Do consumers want to be treated as individuals? Treating consumers as individuals by engaging them through social media and outstanding customer service, combined with amazing products or services and revenue-generating initiatives, can help make the relationship between a company and its customers a more powerful experience and a win-win for both.

Is social media better executed in-house?

Is social media better executed in-house? There isn’t one right way to organize your company’s social media marketing management, but which way is right for you?

5 reasons why market research comes before social media

Do you need to do market research? Two-thirds of our readers say they didn’t do any market research before launching their social-media initiatives. I argue that companies that do their research are more likely to find a social media strategy that works for them.

Does social recruiting make sense for your company?

The recruitment process has unsurprisingly shifted to the online world, and social media seems to be the right fit for recruiting qualified job seekers.  There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every company, but there are many obvious benefits to be had.

Social media and tablets: A perfect duo?

Tablet devices can put the Web at your fingertips, along with a broader range of features than a smartphone. These devices are poised to make social networks an even bigger part of users’ day-to-day lives.

What are the benefits of opening the door to social networking in the workplace?

About 57% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say companies should place restrictions on social media access for some or all of their employees — but I am not so sure that’s such a great idea. Social media has many benefits to offer a business, many of which rely on everyone having access.

Is Facebook Insights a powerful tool for tracking engagement?

About 37% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say Facebook Insights has helped them understand and analyze trends and improve engagement. I agree that while Facebook Insights does have its flaws, it’s the most sophisticated data I have seen on a social network.

What makes social-media followers flee?

While about 44% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say they’ll unfollow someone for posting too often to a social network, I argue that having too little to say can be every bit as bad.

Will 2011 be the year we achieve social-media integration?

Integrating your social media campaigns and expanding your presence beyond your marketing and public relations departments are the most important things you can do to improve the effectiveness of your social-media efforts in the coming year.  Do you disagree?

When it comes to social networks, how much is too much?

Should you worry about scaring away followers by posting too often? And how can you figure out where your audience’s threshold lies? I tackle one of the thorniest problems.

Does social media affect consumer complaints?

Social networks give consumers a way to publicly shame corporations into responding to a problem. But this trend doesn’t have to be all bad news for businesses if they’re willing to get out in front of potential crises.

Is Facebook worth all the attention it’s getting?

Almost half of the SmartBrief on Social Media readers who took the poll say Facebook receives too much attention. Facebook is on top now, but its position may be more tenuous than it appears.

How much time should be spent on social media?

Rather than focusing on finding the correct number of hours to devote to social media, you should be looking for ways to increase the yield of the time you do spend. How much time do you spend on social media? Is there an optimum time commitment?

Are social-buying sites part of social media?

Group-buying networks such as Groupon and Living Social may not qualify as social media yet, but they’re headed in that direction. And with the advent of features such as Facebook’s recently announced “Buy with Friends,” the convergence of group buying and social networking may be just around the corner.

Would a premium social-networking model cause users to flee?

If your favorite social network decided to start charging its members, would you pay the fee or delete your account? More than half the SmartBrief on Social Media readers who took our poll indicated they’d walk away before they’d pay for social networking. But I posits that users might rethink the question if they were faced with the loss of their network.

Are question-and-answer forums an untapped source for business leads?

Results are split among social media users, with about 27% indicating they haven’t used such forums but were open to it, about 21% saying they had no plans to use them, 22% saying they have answered questions on forums to build their profile as an expert and 22% trying it out but not getting results. Positive participation in such forums “can create high-quality experiences for both businesses and prospects because a dialogue quickly forms between people seeking answers to important questions and ‘experts’ or professionals who have useful (non-spammy) answers to those questions.

How social media is making companies rethink recruiting

Social tools offer businesses a wealth of recruitment advantages. Have you used social networks to search for new employees?

Is there value in buying display ads on social sites?

Display ads on social networks are increasingly popular, studies suggest, but SmartBrief on Social Media readers don’t seem to be too keen on them. Here, I question the value of display ads on social sites and points to some storm clouds on the horizon for the sector.

Are search and social media really adversaries?

It would be a mistake to ignore the power of search engines. Rather than asking which technology is more powerful, we should be looking for ways to make them work together.

What does social media mean for the future of journalism?

Many journalists were skeptical of social tools at first, but now social media is a vital part of how reporters do their jobs. Social media journalism has its fair share of problems, however, meaning that traditional reporting is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

What do you think of these polls and analyses?  Which one caught your attention?  What other polls would like to see posted on SmartBlog on Social Media?

In October 2010, I was invited to speak in Mexico at Tweet to be Heard, the international social media marketing conference.  It was my first time in Puerto Vallarta, and what an experience it was.  Rightly, this is now my favorite spot in Mexico, and I still haven’t stopped raving about since my return.

Last year’s conference was an absolute blast and extremely worthwhile for all attendees who voiced that they wanted another conference.  I also walked away with some truly wonderful life-long friendships.

Well, the excitement continues! I am enormously flattered to be invited back for Tweet to be Heard 2 on May 12 – May 15, 2011 in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Again, I will be sharing the stage with some exceptional speakers:  Guillermo Perezbolde, Trey Pennington, Victor Garcia, Marco Ayuso, Richard Snyder, Jay Handler, and William Michael.

Like last year, I am treating it as another well-needed vacation.  If it’s time for you to take a break the routine and want to learn about social media, then this is “the” conference to attend.  I hope you consider joining us for a remarkable learning experience, fun in the sun, and some great adventure. And if you do decide to attend, please reach out to me for a VIP discount code that I can offer to special guests.

I interviewed conference originators and founders of Vallarta Escapes, Robert Dry and William Michael, to get the scoop on their thoughts of social media after gaining more knowledge from the first conference.   I also wanted to learn more about their plans for the upcoming conference.  Check out what they had to say below:

Despite Mexico being the 2^nd largest Internet country in Latin American after Brazil, its Internet penetration at 27.2% is lower than many other countries, but growing at a faster pace due to many early adopters.  What do you think the future of social media will be like in Mexico?

Social media is the largest adjunct to traditional marketing in wide use today.  Mexico, which lagged behind in the past regarding mail and telephone marketing has embraced Internet marketing and is soaring!  Not having the prejudices of older marketing ways allows Mexico to speed ahead of other countries still bound to archaic methods.  Social media will be the cutting-edge marketing tool for Mexico’s strength in the world economy.

Do you see many businesses in Mexico embracing social media?

Businesses in Mexico embrace youth and the young at heart; therefore, they are positioned to embrace social media.  Mexico is a hidden force that is ready to compete with the world on the Internet, regarding marketing and business.

Although you don’t work in the social media industry, you were one of the early adopters to launch a social media conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in October 2010.  What prompted your decision to hold an educational conference?

No, we do not work in the social media industry.  Vallarta Escapes as one of the leading agencies in Puerto Vallarta for vacation rentals and real estate sales.  After embracing social media and online marketing for our business and found success in them, we realized the lack of social media education in Mexico.  It made sense for us to bring qualified speakers to learn and share the knowledge with our friends in paradise.

What made you decide to launch Tweet To Be Heard 2 coming up in May 2011 and will only the residents of Mexico benefit from this conference?

At the end of the first conference, we asked the attendees if they would return the next year.  Not only did they say yes, but strongly encouraged us to do it in six months and have it as a continuous bi-annual conference.

We also conducted a survey after the conference that reinforced that we were doing the right thing.  Additionally, we learned how to improve the Tweet To Be Heard conference to make the upcoming event even more exciting, enlightening and well worth everyone’s time.

Since social media is on the World Wide Web, we naturally invite people from around the globe to join us in our tropical destination while learning from incredible international speakers.  This conference is structured to benefit everyone who uses a computer for business.

The first day, the speakers cover Facebook and Twitter for beginners; the second and third days are for attendees who know the basics of social media and want to graduate to a more advanced level, so they can truly leverage the power of social media in their business; the final day is designed for business and marketers that wish to walk away with a sustainable plan, which will help maximize business results.

What changes have you made with your online presence or social media efforts after the first conference, and what were the most important takeaways of the conference?

After the first conference, we created our long-term plan and applied search engine optimization with social networking tactics to increase our rankings in Google.  Our detailed marketing plan included integrating social media into the entire marketing mix.

The most important takeaway of the conference was the social media marketing plan as well as the incredible life-long friendships we garnered.  We are looking forward to seeing last year’s attendees again as well as meeting many new ones.

In a recent SmartBrief poll analysis, I mentioned one of the growing trends of the future will be recruiters and staffing firms scouting prospects through social networks. Do job seekers need to get social too because of this shift?

In today’s competitive job market, job seekers are certainly jumping on the social bandwagon and doing whatever it takes to get the attention of recruiters by launching short-term social media campaigns to set themselves apart from other candidates.

It is becoming the norm for people to go beyond sending their resume to a company.   Many job seekers are using innovative tactics to capture interest and create buzz.  Some of these tactics include sending video cover letters, uploading video pitches to YouTube, designing creative infographs instead of text resumes, purchasing Facebook social ads, or even tweeting their way into a job.

A tech-savvy job seeker, Meetu Singhal of Las Vegas took the creative approach and recently launched a social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to try to obtain a job interview for a social media position at Zappos.

I was able to get the inside scoop from Meetu.  Let’s see what she had to say:

1. What is your professional background?

I have extensive experience in marketing and communication – conventional and online media. With an overall experience of 11 years and the last five years in providing consulting services to U.S. and Canada based start-ups on online marketing, social media marketing, conversational marketing, community building, crowdsourcing, e-commerce, and analytics.

I have a deep understanding of the latest web technologies and how to leverage such technologies for social commerce is what I bring to the table.

2. When did you first discover you had a passion for social media?

In 2006, I was recovering from some health complications and surgery, and I was working from home for a U.S.-based start-up that was engaged in building community for professionals in the Insurance and Finance industries. My duties included setting up virtual conference events, webinars, email marketing, etc.

After just a few days of working there, I realized that there was a need for doing something that will enable them to generate content collaboratively, and that is when my social media journey began.  I helped the founders launch their online presence by setting set up their community blog, podcasts, etc.  As you know in 2006, not too many people knew how to set up a blog or how to engage a community for that matter.

Later, I was a part of creating an online community for thought leaders, which can now be seen at www.33voices.com.

3. How long has it been since you sent Zappos your resume? This was for a social media position, correct?

The second week of February, I sent my resume to Zappos for the Facebook Marketing Assistant position. They were asking for 1+ year experience, and I thought Facebook for business has only two years old, so applying for this position would not be a bad idea.

After waiting a few days for a response, I decided to reach out through a social media campaign on February 14. The story of the birth of the campaign is shared by my avatar in a video on YouTube. If you are wondering why I used an avatar instead of me speaking the story, please check Zappos’ 10 core values. The goal is to be creative, add weirdness and fun.

4. I am sure many people are dying to know how you came up with the “Zappos Hire Me” campaign since this is not how anyone would typically try to get capture company’s interest. Why did you think this would get Zappos’ attention and set you apart from other candidates?

This is very simple. Since they needed someone to assist with social media efforts, a social media campaign is the the best way I can present my credentials. Don’t you think?

I’ve had Zappos on my radar since I started my job hunt in December 2010.  At that time, I was renewing the domain for my blog, and it struck me that I should also get http://zapposhireme.com in case I needed it if the opportunity were to arise.  I suppose it was the law of attraction; here I am two months later trying to grab their attention for a position I am really interested in.

5. How long did it take for Zappos to react after you launched the campaign? What was their reaction?

Since it was a social media campaign, their Facebook and Twitter teams got the news first because of tweets and posts on their Facebook page. On Facebook, the reaction was complete silence, which made it very clear that they did not want to acknowledge the campaign on Facebook. On Twitter, the communication has been on and off.

The reality is that it took a phone call from me to get them to actually respond (watch video). And believe it or not, it was not until yesterday (February 22) that a Facebook employee acknowledged the campaign on Zappos Facebook page with a reply to a really encouraging comment.  As you can see, this created an interesting trail of comments.

I also wrote an email to Zappos asking them a few questions, and I am still waiting for a response.

6. Do you feel this campaign benefited you in other ways as well?

There has not been a benefit in terms of a job offer, and I think it is too early to see any major benefits because it’s only just been over a week since the launch.  However, I was contacted by a couple of recruiters after launching the campaign, so it is getting the attention I anticipated.

Some bloggers, including a Dutch blog contacted me for blog interviews, and Fox 5 News in Las Vegas is covering my story today. And of course, I get an opportunity to tell my story on this awesome blog, which is a huge social media benefit.

Also, a big brand in India just asked me to be on their board of consultants, which will be a contractual job.  However, my heart is still with the “Zappos Hire Me” campaign because I would love to be given an opportunity to at least interview with them.

In addition, it has also been nice to see all the Google Alerts that show me where the campaign is making its footprints.

7. How do you feel social media is changing the way job seekers communicate with companies? Do you see these kinds of campaigns as a trend of the future?

Personal branding is extremely important whether you are working for yourself or for someone else.   It is not easy to carry out such a campaign by yourself.  After starting the campaign, you really must look to the community and influencers to help you spread the word.

In my case, there has been tremendous support from many people who have tweeted and posted on my behalf, endorsed me, wrote testimonials, etc.  Thus, SOCIAL equals YOU ALL and not just ME, if this makes sense.

Technology gives you the opportunity to be creative, but the human element inspires you to spread the word.  Social media is the best tool available to showcase your personal brand.  It does not take much to start using social media to share your work.  You never know what opportunities may arise, such as a recruiter knocking at your door.

In addition, companies should be prepared to handle such events.  In my case, the Zappos’ Facebook team was surprisingly inexperienced on how to respond.  It took one full week for them to respond and express their opinion of the campaign.  This stunned me since Zappos is one of the talked about brands that use social media.

Thus far, it has been a great experience, and I am going to continue till I get that interview with Zappos.  I know I cannot do it without the help of the community.  Please join me in my journey at the links below and let’s prove the power of social media together.

Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/zapposhireme

Twitter handle: http://twitter.com/zapposhireme

YouTube: http://youtube.com/meetusinghal

What other creative ideas can Meetu come up with to grab Zappos’ attention? Do you think Meetu’s campaign will play a party in starting a new trend for job seekers?

After several decades of authoritarian rule, the courageous people of Egypt finally spoke loud and clear that they will no longer go on without ending the suffering of their country. For several weeks, the world watched online and offline while a groundswell of fearless protestors fought for freedom and democracy, achieving one of the greatest historic victories – the fall of the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, and hopefully the termination of brutality and anguish.

Like the millions of people around the globe who were following this powerful people’s revolution, I was glued to all the social networking and news sites, restlessly watching the movement. Certainly, I had a special interest in what was happening not only because the social Web was key in all of the events, but also because I have many valued Egyptian friends.  I also vacationed in beautiful Egypt several years ago.

During my visit, I sadly observed the torment of the hungry children and adults on the streets of Cairo, while Mubarak and his family slept soundly in their palace.  So at last, I was thrilled to see so many enraged Egyptians finally wake up from the fear to fight for the liberty they so longed for and deserved.  Without this new age revolution and the commanding voice of the people, the world would not have known about the 30-year distress that Mubarak caused the people of Egypt.

Mubarak’s greediness was sucking the blood out of the country by stealing billions of dollars, leaving the people to endure massive unemployment, appallingly low-paying jobs, starvation, homelessness, and wrongful treatment of innocent individuals.

There is no doubt that full credit goes to the bravery and perseverance of the people for the uprising and for the toppling of their corrupted government.  Although it was the power of the people that forced this selfish egotistical leader out, I was impressed how the Internet, social media and mobile devices played such a significant role in this strong movement.  The use of technology was one of the greatest examples of our increasing interconnected world, and the opportunities we now have to shape the world.

If it wasn’t for social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as YouTube and Google, the voice of the heated Egyptian people would not have been heard so loudly around the globe.  We also would not have seen the revolution take off as quickly and reach as many people as it did.

Here are just a few ways how the Internet, social media, and mobile impacted Egypt’s historic triumph:

• Gave the demonstrators the tools they needed to launch the uprising at a newer pace and scale (i.e., Wael Ghonim’s Facebook page and video)
• Helped easily gather and mobilize the tech-savvy people for protests
• Enabled the world to share their perspective across different channels and contribute to the news as it happened
• Allowed journalists to report from the ground and post or tweet in real-time as well as link to their blogs, videos, and photos
• Enabled journalists to record audio and video through phones when video cameras were taken away by government
• Made it possible for people to use third-party apps like Hootsuite to post to Facebook and Twitter when they were blocked
• Facilitated coverage and recognition for Middle Eastern channels like Al Jazeera
• Assisted in popularizing the emergence of content and news curation
• Proved that authoritarian leaders may no longer have control of media and events
• Frightened a tyrant enough to cause his regime to suppress access to the Internet and mobile phones
• And, thanks to Google and Twitter for creating Speak2Tweet, which helped make it possible for the Egyptian people to continue tweeting by enabling them to dial a phone number and leave a voice mail that was posted to Twitter.

Of course technology did not make the revolution, but it did have a vital function.  Again, it was energy of the people online and offline that created a momentous change. Congratulations to all Egyptians around the world.  You made the world proud and proved that “Yes we can!”  I am looking forward to seeing transformation and visiting the new Egypt soon!

What do you think of the innovative use of social media I described above? How do you think the use of technology during this event will impact future significant events?

Join me and 17 other fascinating speakers for the “Social Media and Sales Telesummit” hosted by Brandy Mychals and Gail Nott!

“Finally…TOP TRAINERS reveal their Social Media & Sales Secrets for Making Connections, Increasing Your Exposure and Getting Paid!”

Networking is a form of interactive communication with the goal of creating a connection. Social Media means taking that networking online with unlimited possibilities to reach a wide audience. Sales are about connecting with your clients…

This telesummit will answer all your questions about how to use “online networking to boost your sales.”

• Communicate effectively to get your message heard in person and online
• Master the mindset required for success as an entrepreneur and in sales
• Blogging tips to increase your credibility and be seen as the expert
• Create sales by being authentic, transparent and without having to “sell”
• Generate speaking events and new business opportunities through social media
• Harness the power of telesummits to build your business and widen your reach
• Savvy social media tips for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more…

Sign up now for this FREE virtual event: http://dld.bz/KreT

Look at these amazing speakers who are going to share their success strategies:

Sign up now for this FREE virtual event: http://dld.bz/KreT

Image courtesy of http://younghoteliers.blogspot.com/

Because social media is so huge today, more and more businesses are using it. Even hotels are getting involved with marketing on social media sites because they see the value in finding customers that way. If you own or manage a hotel, work for one, you’re thinking of starting one, or you’re thinking about studying hospitality management, you may want to consider the top 10 ways hotels should be using social media.

1. Twitter questions and answers

Create a Twitter page and let people ask questions about the hotel. They can get quick answers that way, without needing to call and talk to an employee.

2. Set yourself as an expert

Set yourself apart as an expert on something or as a specific kind of destination — like a wedding hotel, etc. Use social media to market your niche.

3. Write content

Write good content about your industry and offer it for others to use/purchase. This really helps get your name out there.

4. Blog

You don’t want to get left behind when it comes to a presence on the Internet. A website is great, but a blog can help ensure that you connect with your customers and keep them up to date.

5. Respond to bad press

If you get bad press or comments on social media sites, respond to them — appropriately. Don’t just fight back or argue, because that won’t help you keep or redeem your reputation. Instead, be respectful, polite, and clear about the issue.

6. Provide information

Make sure you keep people informed. Your customers are going to want to know what’s going on with your company and if you’re offering any special deals.

7. Promote positive reviews

Make sure your positive reviews make it onto your Twitter page, Facebook page, and website. Let people know that others like the quality and service that you provide.

8. Be aware of competition

Pay attention to the competition by listening online. A lot of people ignore this because they don’t see the value in it. You really need to know what competitors are doing. If you don’t have a clue what they’re up to, how can you be expected to compete with them?

9. Make it personal

Get permission from your guests to take some pictures or videos at wedding and parties. Feature them on your social media sites so that others can see what you’re offering and how much fun people are having at your hotel. That will make people want to stay with you, too.

10. Hire through social media

Do your hiring through social media connections. It can be a great way to find people who would be a good fit when you need to hire workers.

It’s clear that hotels could be doing more to get their name and information out to the public. If they spend more time working with the people they want to see as customers — and interacting with them through social media — they’ll likely find that they can increase their business.

Guest Author: Amy Silver is a Public Health student. She loves her dogs and finding a good deal. She’s recently started blogging, and you can follow her at twitter.com/amyjsilver.

In the past several weeks, I’ve read hundreds of social media predictions for 2011, but below are the ones I think are worth mentioning (listed in no particular order).

1. “Twitter will be acquired, most likely by a media company like CNN. Twitter has proven successful when coordinating closely with major events on television (e.g., World Cup, helping resurrect MTV Video Music Awards from the dead, etc.). With its new platform, Twitter is poised to make money. However, can it avoid becoming the next Digg?” Erik Qualman, 21 Social Media Predictions for 2011

2. “Tools, networks and services that cater to the role of the curator will emerge, with several already leading the way. Storify, Curated.by, Pearltrees, and Paper.li are becoming the coveted services of choice amongst curators as they not only enable the repackaging and dissemination of information, they do so in captivating and engaging formats.” Brian Solis, Social Media Predictions Preview 2011

3. “It’s possible that by sticking to what Google does best, they may be able to take advantage of the social web by indexing any and all social data they can get their hands on. Expect the Googleplex to “strike back” in 2011, and perhaps demonstrate that they may figure out their role and relevancy on the social Web.” David Armano, Six Social Media Trends for 2011

4. “Once you have a broad social program where you’re adding social frosting to all of the cake you already own, coordinating all of that activity becomes critical. We’ll see a lot more companies adopting (and talking about) internal social media next year.” Jay Baer, Why 2011 will be the year of social-media convergence

5. “Expect Companies to Aggregate Discussions, Struggle with Authentic Discussions and Be Frustrated with Listening Tools. Despite their aspirations, I don’t expect them to achieve all of their goals due to cultural limitations, insufficient technology…” Jeremiah Owyang, Analysis: 2011 Corporate Social Strategy Will Focus on Corporate Website Integration (Part 1/2)

6. “There are a number of great companies and apps currently experimenting with (or betting their business on) QR codes, and I predict that we’ll see a great deal more in QR territory in the coming year, including greater brand integration in print magazines, more consistent use in outdoor media, and even some clever mashups of QR codes, gamification and social commerce.” Stephanie Schwab, Five Social Media Trends for 2011

7. “Business will demand more business-driving proof, readers will demand more substance to blogs and those who are practitioners will have to demand excellence out of themselves. This will go a long way in cleaning up the industry, in my opinion.The ‘gurus’ will fade away while the practitioners excel. If you aren’t moving the needle, you’re done.” Jason Falls, 30 Social Media Predictions From 30 Social Media Pros

8. “While content marketing was clearly accepted in 2010 as a viable marketing practice, 2011 is the year where the majority of companies get serious about it – adding to budget, getting better at measurement, and begin to develop internal processes and staffing around the consistent creation of content.” Joe Pulizzi, 100+ Content Marketing & Social Media Predictions for 2011

9. “Micro payments – finally? Facebook have been dipping its toe into micro payments in 2010 by giving out free credits to help condition customers use the new credit system. I saw a Facebook “gift card” in the stores for the first time this month.  This is significant because micro-payments have been the long-time dream of musicians, writers and every other artist getting their work ripped off on the Internet. Yes, it might aimed at virtual Farmville crops but I’m hoping this will finally catch on and introduce a new much-needed monetization system on the social web.” Mark Schaefer, 2011 Social Media Forecast: Digging deeper

10. “Offline will become social as connected TV becomes a reality. Again, hardly ground-breaking, but I do feel 2011 will see social TV move from two screens to one. Google TV is live, Apple TV (though hardly social) is finally getting some love from Steve Jobs, whilst Microsoft apparently also has plans in this field.” Ciarán Norris, 5 Social Marketing Predictions For 2011

11. “As brands move this year from being on social media to using the social media ecosystem, ROI metrics will finally evolve beyond counting ‘likes’ and comments. Aligning with actionable business objectives and their corresponding metrics will be critical to being able to demonstrate repeatable contribution to the bottom line. Companies who hire social media strategists with proven marketing analytics background and business strategy experience will have the upper hand and will place first in the race to cracking the ROI code.”  Ravit Lichtenberg, 10 Ways Social Media Will Change in 2011

12. “Privacy in social media, meanwhile will remain a puzzle that neither the industry nor government will be able to solve. Why? It’s probably too difficult a problem, with multiple, well-funded — and even well-meaning — constituencies. There’s too much money at stake (advertisers and media companies have lots of lobbyists) to risk screwing up ad targeting, and we have an internally combative situation in Congress.” David Card,  Social Media 2011: Privacy Puzzles, Search Will Stick Around

13. “2011 will be the year that companies refine their approach to social media, provide clear calls to action on their messaging and drive leads and sales as a measure of success. Online marketing is more trackable than any other paid media approach, and social media is part of that. While tracking growth of reach and other softer metrics has been the common approach, more companies will start to show conversions from social media marketing. Social CRM will play an important role in tracking and achieving these conversions.” Jeffrey L. Cohen, 11 Predictions for B2B Social Media in 2011

14. “The Full Resurrection of E-mail.  E-mail addresses are a safer long-term investment than social media features. Think about all the money companies spent advertising their MySpace pages in 2007. Even on Facebook, your direct messages to fans are relegated to a second tier inbox no one reads. This is something you don’t have to worry about happening in e-mail marketing. Among 20- to 35-year olds, at least, their physical addresses change more frequently than their e-mail addresses.” Tim Ferriss, 4 Social Media Marketing Predictions for 2011

15. “What we’ve known as the role of the foreign correspondent will largely cease to exist in 2011. As a result of business pressures and the roles the citizenry now play in using digital technology to share and distribute news abroad, the role of a foreign correspondent reporting from an overseas bureau “may no longer be central to how we learn about the world,” according to a recent study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. The light in the gloomy assessment is that there is opportunity in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Africa, where media is expanding as a result of “economic and policy stability,” according to the report. In 2011, we’ll see more news organizations relying heavily on stringers and, in many cases, social content uploaded by the citizenry.” Vadim Lavrusik, 10 Predictions for the News Media in 2011

Your thoughts?  What are your social media predictions for 2011?

Here are 20 most read and widely-shared social media blog posts of 2010 on MirnaBard.com. It’s a good time to revisit many of these posts, as they are great reminders when planning for 2011.  Please let me know what your favorite one was in the comments below.

Thank you for all my supportive readers.  I appreciate you more than you know!

1. Ask Mirna: What criteria do you suggest people use to select a social media expert?
2. 7 Signs Your Social Media Consultant is Really an Expert
3. 15 Categories of Social Media
4. 21 Twitter Conversation Tips
5. 99 Favorite Social Media Quotes and Tips
6. Top 50 Social Media Mistakes Made by Small Businesses
7. 6 Essential Mindset Shifts for Social Media Success
8. The 21 Essential C’s of Social Media
9. How to Write Re-tweetable Tweets in 5 Minutes or Less
10. 290 Email Spam Trigger Words to Avoid
11. 4 Steps to Strengthen Your Brand with Social Media
12. Is Social Media a ‘Get Rich’ Scheme or Competition?
13. 3 Undeniable Ways to Turn Competitors into Enemies on Social Media Sites
14. 25 Monitoring Tools That Will Not Cost You a Penny
15. 11 Key E’s of Social Media
16. 11 More Key E’s of Social Media
17. 5 Definite Reasons Why Videos are an Effective Marketing Tool
18. 7 WordPress Plug-ins to Help You Control Content Scraping
19. 9 Ways to Reduce Scraping and Catch Blog Post Theft
20. 7 Simple Social Networking Tips for Business

Which one of the 20 was your favorite of 2010?

Twitter can be an amazing way to reach your ideal clients and build a relationship that makes them want to do business with you.  Twitter sends 13x more traffic with fewer followers than Facebook…If you do it right.

But how do you know what to tweet?

You DON’T want to end up with a Twitter account full of meaningless twatter no one cares about.  You know the tweets I’m talking about…

“Meeting my girlfriends for a grilled cheese sandwich and fries.”  “Can this day get any worse?  I hate the rain.”

Do your clients really want to read that stuff?  Probably not.

What kind of tweets do you want to write?  The kind that make people click through to your website.  The kind that transition them from Twitter follower to paying client.  You want to write re-tweetable tweets.

71% of tweets produce NO RESPONSE.  Only 23% get replies and a mere 6% get retweeted.

But some Twitter superstars get re-tweeted all the time.  What’s their secret?

The easiest way to write re-tweetable tweets if by letting other people do the hard work for you.

Here’s what I mean…

Thousands of people in your industry are blogging about topics your followers would love to know about.  All you have to do is locate those blogs and share them with your followers.

Why would you want to do that?

• The more cool stuff you share with your followers, the more attention they pay to your Twitter stream.
• Your followers are more likely to re-tweet your tweets to their friends who share the same interests…which means your tweets can go viral in minutes.
• You’ll be training your followers to look to you as the trusted resource for the latest news in your industry.  Then when you tweet about your own business…between all your other re-tweetable tweets…they’re going to click through and buy your stuff.

Here’s a formula adapted from Don Crowther for writing re-tweetable tweets in only 5 minutes a day.  It takes a little time to set up initially, but after that, you’ve got a fountain of re-tweetable topics that runs on autopilot.

1. Make a list of the information your ideal client is interested in.  Good ideas for topics: their biggest questions or challenges, things they want or need to learn about.  Also consider any hobbies they have outside their relationship with you. For example, I’m working with small business wedding professionals.  Topics of interest to them include wedding business tips, wedding trends, and wedding fashion, as well as general marketing and sales strategies.
2. Search the Internet for the best 20 blogs on these topics.  (If you really want to take this to the next level, find 100-500.) Grab the RSS feed of each blog.  You’ll find this by clicking the little orange RSS feed icon in your browser bar or on the blog page.
3. Import your list of RSS feeds into Google Reader or another feed reader of your choice.
4. Whenever you need something new and cool to tweet about, look at the posts in your feed reader.  You’ll automatically have the latest industry trends and strategies at your fingertips.  Pick one and tweet about it.

Watch this video below to learn how to find those RSS feeds and put them into Google Reader:

This strategy makes it simple and easy to come up with fascinating, totally re-tweetable tweets that your ideal clients will love.  And guess what?  It’s a great resource if you’re looking for ideas for blog posts and Facebook updates, too.

What’s your best strategy for getting re-tweeted?  Leave a comment and share with us.

Guest Author: Want to learn more business strategies like this? Visit BookMoreBrides.com; Stephanie Padovani  specializes in helping wedding professionals build a 6 figure wedding business without fighting about price or wasting money on advertising that doesn’t work.

Everybody’s waiting for the next big thing. You’ve heard this phrase before. You’ve even seen the proof, but you are hesitant to jump on the social media train yourself. Trust me, it is the next big thing, and it is already here.

We all love rags to riches stories. Perhaps a few kind folks are altruistic and are genuinely pleased when a little guy hits the big time. Most of the rest of us just think, “If that person can do it, surely I can.” Success stories breed more success, so in that spirit, read on for the impact social media can have on your business, no matter what niche you are in.

IdeaPaint is a Boston-based company. They have a website, and on this website they maintain a blog. How do you blog about paint, you may wonder? The answer is that if you are passionate and customer-centered, you can write enthusiastically about anything. This company was smart enough to share their blog on their company Twitter and Facebook pages. They take advantage of the social aspect of this media and take time to interact with their customers via these friend and information generators known as social media. The impact of choosing to market this way? These social media platforms are now the company’s largest source for increasing their leads and traffic. The growth is not only maintaining but ramping up, and that means good things for this business.

There is so much available to business owners now, which was unfathomable to previous generations. Pictures have been around for a long time, but when you have friends on Facebook who also take pictures of your product and post online about how much they like your exclusive merchandise X, suddenly the possibility of reaching more people from the trusted status of friend increases dramatically. If you choose to tweet about what is important to you – not just your product – but you as a person – your base grows and grows as you get the word out and contact more people.

The key to succeeding with social media is to try every aspect of it and give it your concentrated effort. If videos serve your business best, track down a talented script writer and actors who can pass on a touch of wild and crazy, and you will immediately appeal to the social networking crowd. Be active in promoting your brand, in being out there, being real and becoming the person they will look to when they want your merchandise or service X. Just don’t be afraid to stick your neck out a bit – it is really the only way to snatch up that coveted attention and get yourself known.

Guest Author: Margo Smith graduated with a B.S. degree from BYU. She draws from her experiences as a modern day children’s governess, her time spent in New England, her years in the corporate world and an author’s perspective on life when writing articles about all kinds of subjects from communications to online classes to social media.

Question: There are so many pseudo social media experts out there, each with his or her “solution,” that it’s become overwhelming to identify the real McCoys. What criteria do you suggest people use? – Jim Taggart, LeadershipWorldConnect

Answer: Thank you for asking a very important question, and for trusting me to answer it for you. I am asked this same question at least once a week.  Unfortunately, the real social media experts are buried under all the hype of the fake experts because the real ones don’t have time to go calling themselves experts so they can pitch you on why you should have 100K Twitter followers, and why you should hire them to do the job. The true authorities in any industry are not hard-selling 24/7. They are too busy strategizing, sharing, learning, educating, creating, experimenting, executing, testing, growing, and helping others thrive.

It is difficult for me to answer this question without being too controversial or self-promotional.  However, my intent is to always educate and create awareness. Thus, the answer is not only based on my opinion, but also years of business experience and thousands of hours of research and execution to back it up.

So, how do you weed out the pundits from the fakes?

First, let’s define expert.  Here is how Wikipedia defines the word:

“An expert is someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill whose faculty for judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely is accorded authority and status by their peers or the public in a specific well-distinguished domain.”

Having extensive knowledge about a topic beyond the average person makes you an expert.  Your skills training and credentials make you an expert.  Your years of experience and education make you an expert.  However, given the above definition, the word expert should not be a self-proclaimed title. This title should be earned and given by peers after a person has logged tens of thousands of hours, and the results should speak for themselves.

Hence, your social media expert is NOT:

• Someone who shows you how to use the latest feature on Facebook
• An individual who tells you to just create pages on the major social networks
• Your web designer or programmer
• Your previous mortgage broker who has moved on to social media because it is the next hot industry
• Your virtual assistant
• Someone who is simply online
• Someone who has five different types of businesses going at once to see which one makes the fastest buck

Am I an expert in social media because I live and breathe the Web every day? It’s possible. However, I wouldn’t use that term.  I am a student of my work. I am constantly learning, experimenting, and educating.  My expertise and knowledge are put to the test every time I have a new challenge, a client, or a new project. If I can’t prove that I have some expertise when the situation calls, it doesn’t matter what I call or describe myself.

The criteria on how to select a social media expert will depend on the individual business and its goals.  However, below are a few other things to consider when selecting a professional to help you with your social media or online efforts.  Please note, these are not listed in any particular order, and this is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but only a guideline to be used along with some common sense.

• Successfully using the Internet for business a minimum of three to five years. Social media for business has not been around long; however, the Web has been around long enough for some people to have a decent amount of knowledge and visibility.  For example, I started placing banner advertising for brands online in 1997-98. While consulting and completing my master’s degree in 2005, I started doing extensive research on the search industry and social media, then started my own business in 2007. There are many people who have been online just as long, if not longer.  You just have to do your homework and find them. Remember, it is not possible for someone to know everything about the Internet.

• Strong online presence. I don’t mean the number of followers they have on Twitter or likers on Facebook.  Google their name and see where they show up.  Where are they mentioned online?  Who is talking about them?  Are they published anywhere?  Who are they engaging with? How are they engaging?  How are they showcasing their expertise and sharing their knowledge? Are others praising them and referring to them as experts? Do they walk the talk?  Their online visibility does not have to be perfect, but it has to be strong. If someone’s online presence is virtually non-existent, do you think they can help you accomplish your online goals?

• Does not preach social media. An expert does not preach or shove social media down your throat right off the bat.  Instead, they give sound business advice based on what they have learned about your business. An expert will explain how social media can complement or enhance current efforts, not replace it.  A true expert may even talk you out of using social media.  I have done this with many clients because I simply felt they were not ready.  So my role at that point was not to convince them to jump on the bandwagon, but to help make changes in their business that would prepare them for the online world so they leverage it properly.  Social media may not make sense for every single business out there.  In addition, not every tool is for every business.  If your so-called expert starts the conversation telling you that you need to be on Facebook before evaluating your business, then there is your first sign to look for someone else because the tools should not even be discussed up front.

• Solid business background. It is not enough to just have online knowledge.  Being able to give someone effective advice about their business requires some form of business leadership.  An expert may have led a business and knows how every aspect of a business comes together.  That person should be able to walk into any business, analyze the current situation, learn about the products/service, research competition, understand the culture, review business objectives, and make a recommendation based on the needs and objectives of that business.

• Understands strategy. It is essential for a social media expert to have an understanding of strategy.  Do they know the difference between goals vs. objectives or strategy vs. tactics?  Can they pinpoint the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of a business? Do they explain a long-term program? Are they able to develop or recommend a sustainable and scalable plan? Can they answer your ROI and measurement questions?  All these questions and more are very essential.

• Recognizes social media is not a campaign. It upsets me to still hear people call social media a campaign.  I come from the advertising world, and a campaign was something that had a start and an end date.  Guess what?  Social media does have a start date, but not an end date.  An expert identifies that social media is a process, a program, an ongoing never-ending conversation.  Although, you may be creating short campaigns within your entire strategy, an expert should help you brainstorm ideas that have sustainability and fluidity.

• Explains integration. Social media is not meant to be used as a stand-alone.  As I mentioned above, social media should be integrated into the entire business strategy.  Is your expert able to discuss and integrate every aspect or department of a business, including the culture, marketing, advertising, public relations, customer service, business development, internal communications, etc.? An expert should be able to explain the how and why to any business. If the goal is marketing, they should be able to help you integrate social media with all your offline marketing efforts as well as explain how it impacts search engine optimization and other online techniques.

• Marketing or corporate communications expertise. Although I don’t think it is an absolute requirement, I believe it is a major benefit to select an expert who has a marketing, corporate communications, or public relations background.  Experts from these industries have the knowledge about selected the right target audience, conducting surveys, understanding consumer behavior, creating effective messages as well as responding to a crisis situation.  I have seen many people succeed online without these skills; however, it is extremely helpful to hire a person with some knowledge or has the willingness to do the research.  If you do look at this as one of the criteria, please make sure they are open-minded and are aware of the communication shift.  It is not wise to choose someone that is still stuck on the traditional way of doing things.

I hope this helps you and others to identify the real McCoys from the fakes.  Of course, when hiring any professional, asking for results and references are always a must.  I can tell you upfront that consultants cannot always share who all their clients are or publicly share case study information.  For example, my work is all based on a client’s business strategy, and this information is generally kept confidential. Thus, don’t be surprised if others tell you the same thing.

The most important thing is to do your research and take your time before selecting the right person for the job.  It is only a matter of time before the fakes drop off.

As you may recall, at the beginning of the year I wrote the “7 Signs Your Social Media Consultant is Really an Expert” blog post, which was very popular. This was meant to be a fun and light post covering the basics, and all seven signs I listed are good basics to consider as well.

Was this helpful? What other criteria have you used to identify if someone is a true social media expert?