In a recent industry report sponsored by Social Media Examiner, an overwhelming 93% of survey participants indicated that they are currently using social media to market their business. Of the participants, small business owners were more likely to indicate that social media is a key tool in their business. Top social media tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are an integral part of the marketing process in today’s businesses.

Managing several social media accounts is time consuming and at times, hard to maintain with other daily tasks. There are several solutions available that allow you to tweet without even being in front of your computer. Tools like Hootsuite and Tweetdeck (which was recently acquired by Twitter for $40 million), are probably the best known tools used to schedule tweets. You can easily save drafts and schedule tweets from an easy-to-use Web-based dashboard.

If your business does not currently have a Facebook page, get one! Facebook is a great way to give updates to existing customers, post pictures, advertise special promotions, and to spread awareness about your brand. A study conducted by Social Media Examiner revealed that nearly 40% of Facebook users become fans of businesses to receive discounts and 39% become fans to show their friends which brands they support. Since users on Facebook are seeking to interact with friends, express themselves, and be entertained, Facebook fan pages are a great way to engage and entertain your fans. If successful, a potential advantage is that consumers will introduce your page to their friends. A great way to create brand awareness!

Another way to market your brand is through LinkedIn. Adding keywords in the title of your group/company will help your company to be found through a Google search. It is also beneficial to add your company website and blog to LinkedIn to drive traffic to your site. Another useful method to increase your reach through LinkedIn is to send personal messages to your connections to increase your chances of future opportunities.

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