It may sound like a tedious task, but taking the time to write out a social media policy for your company can be beneficial. A good social media policy is a roadmap that protects your business and your employees. Some businesses choose to be proactive with their social media policies and layout the groundwork up front and all at once. Others choose to develop a working document that evolves as the company grows. One approach isn't necessarily better than the other, however, it's a good idea to apply a few key elements to ensure that your social media policy is well-structured.

1. Keep It Short & Sweet

Social media policies should be clear and succinct so that people will read and remember them. Save the fodder and get right to the point.

2. Set Expectations for Behavior

Millions of people utilize some form of social media each and every day. Chances are that your clients, customers and even potential clients are watching what you do and your employees. This doesn't mean that a strangle-hold should be put on your employees, but you should make sure that common sense is exercised. Information on the web travels quickly and once it's out there - it's out there. Think twice before hitting the send button.

3.  Educate Your Team

Make sure that everyone is aware of what social media campaigns are underway, where you have a presence and what communication you're sharing with the public. For example, designating specific internal correspondence as 'must-read' can alert your staff to press releases about new product launches, promotions and terminations and other company-related data.

4. Protect Your Assets

Set-up guidelines that share what employees can and can't mention in social media contexts. This could be anything from trade secrets, proprietary technology or even sensitive documents. Provide examples if needed.

If you're looking for inspiration, take a peek at what some recognizable companies have implemented into their social media policies.

Recently, LinkedIn unveiled a new feature that allows users to follow companies on the world’s largest professional networking site. The ‘Follow Company’ button also enables users to keep track of key developments, potential business opportunities job leads. At first glance, this tool appears to be better suited for job seekers, but if you put on your creative marketing caps it can be used for a heck of a lot more.

Here’s how it works. When you’re searching the profiles of your connections, you’ll notice a small Follow Company icon. Hover over the icon and it will open a pop-up window that will allow you to follow that particular company. Simple.

So, now that you know about the button and how to access it, what can you do with it?

1. Competitive Research

You can request that automatic notifications are sent out to you that feature your competitor's current news and company updates. It's like a direct feed that loops you into breaking announcements straight from the horse's mouth. Access to this information gives you the opportunity to adjust your marketing strategies, monitor competitive efforts and apply critical thinking to your existing campaigns. You'll be just like 007 minus Miss Moneypenny.

2. Pillage Talent

We're not suggesting that the Follow Company feature is a new plundering scheme. But, using the Follow Company button shows you who your competition is hiring and promoting, plus it reveals what positions are opening and closing. Watching these HR transactions can give you a better understanding of the growth patterns and downsizing trends that your competition may be experiencing. For instance, if you see a mass recruitment for sales executives in Atlanta, then you might want to investigate what's behind the sudden interest in the South.

3. Reputation Management

If you're going to follow, you might as well listen. Keeping your ear to the ground is a smart way to stay on top of conversations about your business. Proactive public relations can help you establish effective crisis communication planning, keep you abreast of any acts of libel or slander and create opportunities to promote on positive discoveries.

4. Grow Your Connections

The Follow Company button works both ways. While you may be looking at the competition, potential customers and employees might be looking at you. This provides an excellent way for you to develop a new stream of connections who have a demonstrated interest in your business. Because there isn't a limit to the amount of companies that a person can follow, many connections can be built. Don't forget to reach out to your LinkedIn fans and welcome them.

Although this list is small to start, we hope to expand on it in the future as the Follow Company button evolves. It will be interesting to watch how companies begin to utilize it and make it work to their advantage.

We'd love to hear from you. What do you think about the new Linkedin Follow Company button? How will you use it?

Social media has completely revolutionized how we communicate and the way that information is shared. And when it comes to businesses, social media has become a powerful tool that can increase your profitability, grow your customer base and establish you as a reputable and solid company. Curious about how social media can do all that and then some? Read on and get the scoop on how it can benefit your enterprise.

1. Brand awareness.

Word spreads quickly through social media. If you promote your brand identity, chances are that you’ll create awareness among your target audience, which will make them more likely to support or purchase your brand.

2. Current news.

Although people may not visit your website each day, that’s certainly not the case with their their social media accounts. Most people routinely login into Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms and that provides you with an opportunity to share product updates, breaking news, upcoming events and other important company information.

3. Exponential promotion.

One of the most fantastic aspects of social media is that whatever you share with your fans, followers and connections has the potential to be passed on to their fans, followers and connections, and so on, and so on.

4. Increase traffic.

Social media profiles are like mini-advertisements for you and your business. Even though the ad may not get noticed by everyone, it still makes a psychological impact. Plus, having a social media presence is significantly better than not having one. Link your business website into your social profiles and show off what you’re all about.

5. Using feedback.

Pay attention to what’s being said about your business through social media outlets. If people are telling you that they ‘love your product’ or ‘think you’re a fantastic company’ then thank them and build on it. Take the positives and develop content that will continue to support and promote the things that your audience loves most.

6. Negative comments.

Look, we’re all human beings and because of that, as a business, you’ll never be able to satisfy everyone 100 percent of the time. It’s impossible. When negative statements or comments surface, don’t ignore them. Respond quickly and find out what you can do to remedy the situation or problem. You’ll be surprised by how well people respond to quick and heartfelt efforts.

7. Join in.

Social media isn’t something that you put together and then sit back and rest on your laurels. It requires participation in the conversations around you. Contribute to dialogues and engage yourself with others. The more you talk to others, the more you’ll learn about what they want and need. This will make it easier for your business to provide services and products for them and become a resource too.

How is social media working for your business? Share comments and tidbits with us.

Let’s go marketing with SlideShare! No, you don’t need to be a crazy PowerPoint or Keynote maniac. You just need a basic understanding on how to put together a slide and you’ll be good to go. SlideShare is a business social media site that lets users share documents, presentations and PDFs. More than 25 million people visit SlideShare each month and that makes it a hot spot to showcase your brand, products and services. Something many people might might not know is that SlideShare is more than just slides. There are a ton of other features that make it a fantastic tool to incorporate into your social media strategy. By the way, SlideShare can help you build some big time valuable links back to your site. SlideShare permits you to place links in your slideshows that connect back to your website. Excellent (saying that in my best impersonation of a Wayne 's World voice). Links from credible sources give your website lift in the search rankings. This means that you have the potential to appear at the top of Google’s search results and that means more people will see you first and before your competition. Google loves SlideShare and sites that are similar to it (think Squidoo, Wikipedia, etc.) because they share useful information and command influence and that is the gold standard for Google. Now that we have a little background on SlideShare, let’s explore how we can harness its power and make it your own personal social media and marketing machine.

1. Optimize Your Slides

Time for your daily dose of SEO. The stuff is everywhere, including SlideShare. When you put together your slides/files use keywords in the title and use them in the summary. Just remember that you don’t have much space, so choose your words wisely. On that same note, make sure you tag your slides with plenty of relevant words so that users can find your content during searches. a a

2. Get Creative With Content

Maybe you already know what SlideShare is and the only challenge you're facing is trying to figure out what the heck to put into your slide show. Here's a sprinkle of creative suggestions to get your juices flowing:

• Put together a how-to tutorial
• Assemble a case study with captivating visuals
• Use your blogs and articles by taking key points and designing a presentation
• Capture images from an event and share
• Take existing presentations and upload them

a a

3. The Company Slide

Don't let the blood, sweat and tears you've put into your slideshow go to waste. Always include a company slide at the end of each and every presentation and file. A website URL is fine, but try making the slide more personal. Include a few sentences about who you are and what you do. Make sure to leave your contact information so that visitors can get in touch. a a

4. Enter the Contest

In 2009, SlideShare partnered up with Adobe and conducted the World's Best Presentation Contest. A sack of cool prizes like were presented: first place received a MacBook Pro, second place snatched an Amazon Kindle DX and third place nabbed an iPhone 3G. The kind folks at Adobe pushed out copies of Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro to the winners of the category prizes. Sounds pretty sweet, right? With only 3,721 entries, most folks had a pretty decent chance of winning something, not to mention the publicity and recognition that was generated too. Watch for the 2010 contest and submit your slideshow. Great marketing and fantastic social media exposure! Here's the 2009 winner:

a

5. Social Media Connections

SlideShare isn't the only place where you can view SlideShare presentations. Hop on over to LinkedIn and load their SlideShare application into your profile. It integrates your existing presentations into your LinkedIn account and gives you the opportunity to market to a larger audience. Same thing goes for Facebook. Take advantage of the Facebook SlideShare application and sync up your presentations so friends and fans can view.

a

a

6. Widget Your Slides

Use what you have to promote your slideshows. Grab the code for a SlideShare widget and embed it into your website's homepage or blog.

a

a

7. Social Media Posting

At the bottom of every SlideShare presentation is a social media bar that enables you to share your content with the world. Use the bar and use it often. Every time you upload new files and presentations, make sure to send out a message to alert your social network that you've got something fresh to share.

a

a

8. Start A Group

Create a group that's exclusive to your brand and advertise your product or services. Groups can be used to interact with customers over the web and you can receive instant feedback and commentary from them regarding your presentations. a a

9. Promote Through PR

Include a hyperlink and mention to your slideshow on all your press releases and blog posts, even in your email signature. The more exposure you can give to your slideshow, the better chance it has of being viewed. a a

10. Add Some Audio

Multimedia that stimulates the sense of sight and sound is much more interesting for any viewer. Integrate some sound into your presentation with Slidecasting. A slideshow with sound can be a better way to touch on key points that might not fit on a single slide. a a

11. Launch A Channel

SlideShare offers businesses an option to set-up 'branded microsites', or company channels, on SlideShare. Channels are customized projects and can be developed with SlideShare based on budget and preferences. Check out some of the newest channels and contact SlideShare for details on how to get started.

The differences between social media and social networking are just about as vast as night and ‘last’ night. Just kidding. Indeed, there are some key differences and knowing what they are can help you gain a better understanding on how to leverage them for your brand and business.

1. By Any Definition

Social media is a way to transmit, or share information with a broad audience. Everyone has the opportunity to create and distribute. All you really need is an internet connection and you’re off to the races. On the other hand, social networking is an act of engagement. Groups of people with common interests, or like-minds, associate together on social networking sites and build relationships through community.

2. Communication Style

Social media is more akin to a communication channel. It’s a format that delivers a message. Like television, radio or newspaper, social media isn’t a location that you visit. Social media is simply a system that disseminates information ‘to’ others. With social networking, communication is two-way. Depending on the topic, subject matter or atmosphere, people congregate to join others with similar experiences and backgrounds. Conversations are at the core of social networking and through them relationships are developed.

3. Return on Investment

It can be difficult to obtain precise numbers for determining the ROI from social media. How do you put a numeric value on the buzz and excitement of online conversations about your brand, product or service? This doesn’t mean that ROI is null, it just means that the tactics used to measure are different. For instance, influence, or the depth of conversation and what the conversations are about, can be used to gauge ROI. Social networking’s ROI is a bit more obvious. If the overall traffic to your website is on the rise and you’re diligently increasing your social networking base, you probably could attribute the rise in online visitors to your social efforts.

4. Timely Responses

Social media is hard work and it takes time. You can’t automate individual conversations and unless you're a well-known and established brand, building a following doesn’t happen overnight. Social media is definitely a marathon and not a sprint. Because social networking is direct communication between you and the people that you choose connect with, your conversations are richer, more purposeful and more personal. Your network exponentially grows as you meet and get introduced to others.

5. Asking or Telling

A big no-no on with social media is skewing or manipulating comments, likes, diggs, stumbles or other data, for your own benefit (personal or business). Asking friends, family, co-workers or anyone else to cast a vote just to cast it, doesn’t do anyone much good for anyone and it can quickly become a PR nightmare if word leaks out about dishonest practices. With social networking, you can tell your peers about your new business or blog and discuss how to make it a success. The conversations that you create can convert many people into loyal fans, so it’s worth investing the time. Social media and social networking do have some overlap, but they really aren't the same thing. Knowing that they're two separate marketing concepts can make a difference in how you position your business going forward.

Share your thoughts or add a comment or two. We'd love to hear from you.

Back in the early days of instant messaging (IM), users could only IM other users through the same IM platform. If you were using AOL Instant Messaging (AIM) then you could only chat with another AIM member. Thankfully, that's no longer the case. There are a variety of chat clients available that provide multi-client support to enable you and your pals to IM regardless of the IM service that they're using. Why would you want to use IM? For a variety of beneficial reasons. IM allows instant communication between people, which can save time and money. No long distance charges apply and it transmits information quickly to simulate the natural flow of conversation. It can reduce the amount of email sent, conference calls scheduled and IM is capable of holding multiple sessions with many people. IM can also be integrated into your existing website, which makes it a fantastic customer service tool. There are more than 80 chat client applications available and each one has its pros and cons. The list was whittled down based on social media integration, multi-client platform capabilities and number of supported chat networks. Knowing what chat clients are available and what some of their key features are can be helpful in determining what will be the best solution for you. NOTE: Most of these applications have mobile access from your handheld, however, not all mentions were included in this blog post. Here’s an alphabetical roll call that features six of the best:

Adium

Let me start with an apology to my PC peeps. The first chat client on the list is for Mac users only (promise that the remaining reviews will be more embracing of both operating systems). Adium started in September 2001 and has grown rapidly among Mac users in terms of popularity. One of Adium’s more notable features involves contact management. Contacts can be combined, which allows you to merge your contacts so that each one represents a person, not an account. A great way to keep things organized. Customizing Adium is accomplished through a suite of Xtras. Everything from layout and themes to sounds, emoticons and message styles. The sky’s the limit with Adium. One of the main reason for using Adium is that it integrates with Facebook Chat and Twitter. This makes it incredibly convenient to monitor direct messages from Twitter and IMs from Facebook through one central location. The Twitter Currently, Adium is 100% freeware and it supports more than 17 chat networks.

Digsby

By a huge margin, Digsby is one of the most comprehensive multi-client chat clients available. First off, it plays well with Windows, Mac and Linux. Next, its features are so robust that not listing some of the standouts would be a disservice.

• Chat with visitors and friends by placing a widget on your blog, website or social media profile
• Manage your Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, AOL/AIM Mail, IMAP and POP accounts from Digsby
• Manage multiple conversations with tabbed windows
• Use a combined buddy list for all your contacts regardless of chat platform and rename them with an alias to eliminate hard to remember chat handles like ‘pinkbunny25’
• Audio and video chat availability (good-bye Skype)
• Complete customization with Digsby application skins and themes

Pretty amazing considering that Digsby has only been around since January 2008. So what can it do with your social media networks? Quite a bit. Digsby supports Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace. You can receive alerts for new friend requests, messages and event invites, plus get a newsfeed of everyone’s status updates. The bonus of bonuses is that you can update your own status for all four networks with Digsby. A total of seven chat networks are supported including, Windows LIve, AIM, ICQ, MobileMe, XMPP and Yahoo! IM and Facebook Chat.

Meebo

The main difference between Meebo and the other applications reviewed is that Meebo isn’t really a ‘desktop’ chat client. It’s web-based, but can be used through a widget that users can embed in their blogs or websites, as well as the Meebo Bar, which is a gadget that lets users connect to Meebo through the base of a webpage. Meebo’s more of a pseudo-desktop chat client that's housed through your browser. Like the widget, it can be incorporated into the bottom pages of your website. Meebo is IM in a web page. Just go to the Meebo site, login and you’re instantly connected to all of your chat buddies through your Meebo account. The benefit of a web-based client is that you eliminate the hassle of software installation and you always have instant access to IM as long as you can find an internet connection. Meebo offers video and audio chat, as well as file transfer. You could potentially take chatting from something you do with friends to a fresh way to conduct business conference calls and meetings. It’s convenient and flexible.

• Because of Meebo’s online interface, it has an array of fantastic features that can’t be found with other desktop chat clients.
• Mobile access was mentioned earlier, but Meebo is built for iPhone, Android and other web-based handsets.
• Join Meebo rooms to meet and connect with new users, or create a custom Meebo room of your own and feature it on your website or blog. A super way to harness conversations about you and your business in primary place.
• Notifications are sent to an icon in your system tray so you’ll never miss anyone who’s trying to contact you.
• A snappy FireFox extension allows for easy integration of Meebo.
• Have a restricted computer (hardcore firewalls or an IT policing department on steroids)? The Meebo Repeater is a beta version of downloadable software that enables chat when IM access is restricted.
• Excellent analytic tool to monitor and track information about your site.
• Connect your Meebo bar to any social media site and drag headlines and links to share through those sites.

Last but not least, Meebo lets users advertise. You can see one of the ad options in action on the Meebo Bar and click it to see even more. You’ll need to contact Meebo directly to learn more about pricing and program options based on your budget and objectives. Meebo connects you to Facebook and five other chat networks. It would be nice to see Meebo offer additional social media site support, but for now you have access to the biggest of the bunch.

Nimbuzz

With Nimbuzz, users can choose to use it as a desktop chat client for Windows or Mac, a web-based client or mobile client. For users who aren’t looking for all the bells and whistles, or anyone who feels a little intimidated by choices, Nimbuzz is your solution. It’s incredibly lite, maybe too much, like  feather actually, as far as features go. In a nutshell, Nimbuzz supports around 12 chat networks, including Facebook and MySpace (at the time of this writing details on support for Twitter couldn’t be located). Nimbuzz also has a secondary service called NimbuzzOut that works as an internet phone service through their IM application. A better way of explaining this would be to call it Skype with fewer features and branded with a new name. There’s not too much more to share about Nimbuzz, other than it’s a plain and simple multi-client chat product. If you’re new to the world of IM, Nimbuzz could be a good starter application. Once you get situated you may find yourself wanting other features and you can always experiment with a new product as your needs grow.

Trillian Astra

Now it’s my turn to apologize to Mac users - at this time, Trillian Astra is only available for Windows, but a version of Max OS X is in the works. In the meantime, Mac users can still use Trillian and experience it through the web-based version. All is not lost fellow Appleheads. Developed by Cerulean Studios, Trillian Astra a real powerhouse in the desktop chat client realm. The functionality that it delivers makes it a truly outstanding tool and one that you’ll want to have in your social media arsenal. Trillian boasts 450+ features to help organize your online life. Facebook, Twitter and MySpaceIM have been incorporated into Trillian’s social media round-up. An added network that many users see as a ‘deal maker’ is the inclusion of Skype. Through its applications, users can place Skype calls, control group conversations, support multiple identities (nice for personal and business profiles) and work with file transfer protocols. Sweet indeed! Trillian Astra aligns more closely with Digsby. It has many features in common (not all) like support for more than nine chat networks and email capabilities. Customization on the surface is accommodated with plugins, skins and themes and usage management that enables you to optimize performance, have proxy control and hands-on identity and connection management.

VoxOx

VoxOx is one serious hybrid. It’s part Adium, Digsby and Skype all rolled into one interface. You can make phone calls, send IMs and emails, monitor social media, share updates and a whole lot more. A quick summary:

• Social networking
• Text messaging
• Instant messaging
• Voice calling
• File sharing
• Email
• Fax

VoxOx has also kicked it up a notch with their universal translator. Whatever you’re typing can easily be converted into the language of your choice. Check out the VoxOx list to see what countries are supported. Another swanky feature is the VoxOx Personal Assistant (VOPA). She’s the real deal and she also puts celebrity assistants to shame with her admin skills. She can screen your calls, eavesdrop on voicemails to see if you should pick-up or let it roll on through and coordinate fax pick-up. The VOPA also offers a ‘Stalker Feature’ and caller ID spoofing. The Stalker Feature let’s VOPA send out a busy signal, disconnected message or personal greeting recorded for any specific person that you’d like to avoid. Caller ID spoofing let’s you create a customized number that others see when you contact them. You could create something easy to remember or spell out something fun. Endless possibilities. Last, but not least, you can include ringback tones to identify clients, friends or family and set-up on-hold music when calls are in queue. Social media coordination with Facebook, Twitter and MySpace (hey, where’s LinkedIn?) let you share videos, pictures, update your status, chat with friends and reply to Tweets. Now that LinkedIn has opened up its API to developers, VoxOx may integrate this social network in the future.

HONORABLE MENTION

Pidgin is a free downloadable chat client that make is very easy to connect with just about anyone. Pidgin supports 17 different chat networks, however, it’s only available for Mac. It’s been around since 1998 and has more than 3 million users.

Hopefully this list of chat applications works as a nice resource that will help you manage your social media conversations more efficiently. Let us know about others chat applications that you're using. We value your feedback.

Tagging is a popular form of identifying various online materials by attaching words, or metadata, to categorize and describe them. This is beneficial because it helps index items according to common traits and it makes them much easier to find by people who are looking for specific things. Tagging can be applied to just about anything:  photos, videos, music, RSS feeds, even webpages. So, here’s an example of tagging. Let’s say that I have a picture of a lemon (apologies for using a pathetically simple example) and I’ve decided to upload to Flickr and share with the world. I add several tags to the image to make it easier to find, like lemon, citrus, fruit. Now with ‘geo-tagging’ things get kicked up a notch. Geo-tagging uses latitude and longitude coordinates to determine location-specific details in relation to specific items. Using the lemon example, geo-tagging would involve sharing the place where the photo was taken, like Florence, Italy. The great thing about geo-tagging is that it can actually be used as a marketing tool to increase business. Geo-based social media sites are sprouting up all over the internet. Knowing what sites are available and how to use them can be an entertaining way to boost repeat business traffic and get your customers to start buzzing about who you are, what you’re up to and, most importantly, where you’re at. a

Foursquare

Foursquare is one of the big dogs on the geo-based social media scene. Their user base is growing rapidly and it’s a perfect time to jump in and start using their services with a creative twist of your own. Check out How to Market Your Business With Foursquare for some great tips and a thorough explanation on how the social platform actually works. a

Gowalla

Next up is Gowalla. It's very similar to Foursquare in terms of premise and interface, however there are some differences that help set it apart. Gowalla users have to physically be at the location when they're checking-in. GPS verification and geocaching work together to verify that users aren't randomly claiming to be somewhere when they aren't. This is a plus for businesses because customers have to be in your establishment in order to claim a true check-in. So how can you use Gowalla for marketing? Pretty easily.

• Visit your Gowalla business listing and see who's checking-in and visiting your place. Because visitors can choose how they'd like to be contacted, like text, call or email, you have a direct connection to them. Reach out and let them know about your special events and unique offers available exclusively to Gowalla users.
• Take a look at businesses nearby. Connect with some of their visitors and let them know that you've noticed they've been in the neighborhood. Incentivize them by offering 10% off a service or giving away a free product.
• More interaction means more buzz. The purpose of sites like Gowalla is to share information with others. Make your place of business a great experience for Gowalla users and they'll spread the word quickly about you.
• Request a customized icon, or your business logo, for your listing instead of using the generic category images that are provided. It will help distinguish your business.

a

Brightkite

The publicity machine may be churning out a ton of spin for Foursquare and Gowalla, but Brightkite has the largest user base among the three applications. Recently, it launched a new group texting tool that lets users communicate with a text message to groups as large as 100 people. It's like being able to hit the 'reply all' button in an email. Instead of having to conduct individual conversations, Brightkite users can rally the troops to meet at a local park for a BBQ or head downtown for some cocktails during happy hour. A super bonus - the service is completely free! No more costly text message fees from your wireless service providers.

• Brightkite is very keen on helping local businesses market themselves. They make it simple to sign-up with a page on their site. Once you've created your listing you'll want to start promoting.
• Print up some window decals and signage to let Brightkite fans know that you recognize them and offer special incentives. Post them conspicuously. Include the a Brightkite badge on your website's homepage. With a little HTML and Brightkite icon, you can post a welcome mat to notify online traffic too.
• Oscar Mayer uses Brightkite to track their Wienermobiles across the country on their hotdoggerblog. A super clever way of showcasing where their business will be so that fans can easily find them. Try implementing a local version for yourself. Let fans know what tradeshow or festival you'll be at, as well as your booth number.
• Advertise with a call-to-action. Special savings are good, but they're even better when you position them with a sense of urgency. Offer 25% off, but only during the hours of 3pm - 5pm on Thursday.

a

Loopt

This application is a stand-out because of its compatibility with more than 100 handheld devices. Additionally, Loopt connects with all major US wireless phone networks, like Sprint Nextel, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and others. Might not sound like much, but the more gadget friendly an application is, the broader its audience base will be. Loopt is more than 3 million users strong and counting, which is interesting because this application doesn't include an entertainment component like Gowalla or Foursquare. It's totally game free. Loopt works based off what your friends are doing nearby and telling you what's going on around your current location. It even makes recommendations by looking at events and places that may be of interest and that are in proximity to where you are and what you're doing. A partnership with Zagat and Citysearch include reviews to make more informed choices.

• Your business can use Loopt to target someone who lives or works nearby and create promotions that can be redeemed by phone or optionally via e-mail or text message. This makes it much more convenient for people on the go.
• Set-up a digital raffle where the first 10 Loopt users who visit your location or write a super star review have a chance to win an free Visa gift card or iPod.
• I've said it a thousand times - social media is social. That means engaging with your audience. Posting and offering without interaction doesn't cut it. You have to reach out and talk to people. Tell them about your discounts, invite them to stop by and let them know that you value their patronage and support. A little sugar goes a long way.

a

Dreamwalk

The easiest way to share what Dreamwalk is and how it works is to show you. Check out the video below for a quick overview. One of the best things about Dreamwalk is that its founders developed it for the purposes of digital advertising. From the moment it became a concept, the interest of the business owner was first and foremost. This theme is clearly reflected throughout their website which contains an abundance of information. Everything from 10 simple steps to get started to a comprehensive FAQ section.

Dreamwalk has made marketing your business an effortless process. They'll help you craft a campaign for your business or you can visit their idea center to get some inspiration and head out on your own. Either way, Dreamwalk is a great place to start testing your geo-based marketing initiatives. Use it as a starting point to launch your promotions or add it to your existing mix of geo-based applications. This is truly a great application.

a

MyTown

This application is one of the most popular among users, partly due to the catchy game that it features. MyTown uses GPS-enabled Monopoly with real physical locations that lets users buy places and collect rent from others who check-in to those venues. Seriously - who doesn't love Monopoly? Unfortunately, compared to the other geo-based applications mentioned, MyTown offers that least amount of information and assistance to business owners. That's a major downfall since business is the driving force behind the application. Currently, business owners can see who's checked-in to their location and obtain their names. The downside here is that the names are pseudonyms or 'game names' so having this data isn't as helpful. Businesses can get involved in promoting their locations by contacting MyTown at:  merchants@booyah.com. For what it's worth, mention that you'd like to see business opportunities expanded and enhanced. Squeaky wheel gets the grease! So why is MyTown being featured if it doesn't seem to be business owner friendly? Well, it's friendly enough, just not bear-hugging-loveable like some of the other applications. As a business owner, getting in on the ground floor with MyTown could be a smart marketing move since it's not saturated with companies who are fighting for the same social space. Contact MyTown for details on how to integrate your business into their application. a

We'd love to know how you're using these services. Please comment and share feedback with us.

The best place to start is probably the most obvious. What exactly is a Twitter list? A Twitter list is a feature that allows you to organize your followers into lists, or groups. It's a great way to organize fellow tweeters into manageable categories for easy access. Getting started with building a list is very simple. There are a few helpful things that are worth knowing before you begin creating your lists. Once you've got some of the basics down, you'll be ready to use them as promotional tools to expand your marketing efforts. Let's start with some ground rules:

1. 1. Lists can be private or public.
2. 2. Twitter users can have up to 20 lists.
3. 3. Each list can have a maximum of 500 listees.
4. 4. List names can't begin with a numerical character.
5. 5. You don't have to follow someone to include them in a list.

Pretty straightforward. Making a list is a snap too. Click on your Twitter profile sidebar, select 'New List' and start adding. Look for the 'lists' button next to any profile, click and you're done. A new listee has been integrated. Pretty simple. Now on to the purpose of this post!

Spy Games

Well, maybe it's not quite spying - more like monitoring, or secretly listening. By creating a list that includes your competition, or similar brands, products and services, you can keep tab on trending topics and discussions. Tracking other tweeters is a great way to learn more about industry challenges and how others are facing them, as well as gain insight and a few tips on customer and client care. All of this is easily accomplished with a private list (remember, you don't have to follow someone to add them to a list).

List Optimization

SEO is everywhere, including Twitter lists. Giving your public Twitter lists appropriate and optimized names can position them at the top of the search engine results pages. So, put some careful thought behind what you'd like to name your Twitter list. Make absolutely certain that once you've decided on a delightful keyword combo you don't change your mind. Reason being is that once you change the name of your list, the URL of the Twitter list changes too. If that happens, you'll lose the tweeters following that list.

Creative Juices Are Sticky

Developing a list for your profile doesn't mean that it has to specifically relate to your business in every aspect. Why not spice things up by developing lists with a twist. First of all, it's unexpected and second, you're allowing yourself the opportunity to expand and engage with new tweeters. Building a list that sticks with tweeters and that's shared with others drives traffic to you. For instance, Jacob Cass' Twitter profile, @justcreative, is aimed at graphic designers. His list, No Blab Just Design Links, is in the Top 140 Twitter lists followed. It ranks as number 51 with 1,025 followers. It's a fun list and the name of it states exactly what it does.

Keep It Relevant

Think of your Twitter lists as extensions of who you are. Use them to build out and express what you can't say in less than 140 characters. As your follower base grows, so do their interests in discovering more about you. Compiling meaningful and purposeful lists that continue to keep followers engaged and that are related to their interests will position you as a credible and respected resource.

Share On Your Web & Blog

Put your list in the limelight with a Twitter widget. Go to the Goodie stash on Twitter and customize your List Widget. Choose the colors, size, featured list and a title and catchy caption. You can do a test run to see how the widget will appear to users before you grab the code to install on your website. Place the List Widget in a conspicuous place and start promoting.

Shameless Promotion

There's no reason why you shouldn't broadcast your newly created list directly to your fellow followers. After all, they're following you because they connect with who you are and what you're sharing. Schedule a tweet or two and share your list for others to follow and enjoy. Just send out your tweet using the following format: @<username>/<listname>

Get Listed

Don't forget to visit Listorious and add your lists to their directory. Listorious was created by Sawhorse Media to keep track of the growing number of Twitter lists that have been created and that are being created. This is also a great place to explore for ideas on assembling your own lists. When you add your list make sure to make use of the 'tags' feature so that Listorious users can find your list by subject and follow you through Twitter.

Toot Your Own Horn

Depending on what your list is about, when you build it, don't forget to include yourself.

Added Exposure

When you're added to someone's list, it's flattering. You're being recognized as someone that's sharing good information and it brands you as a resource. In turn, that makes you more credible, which is always a good thing. Starting a list of your own and adding specific people to follow has the same effect on them. It expands your circle of influence and builds up your network. What lists are you currently following? What makes them standout? Share your thoughts and comments below.

Over the past few years local search has been dominating the search engines. Google, Yahoo and Bing are seeing droves of people turning toward the internet to conduct searches for brands, products and services within their local areas. Just to give you an idea, published numbers indicate that more than 10 billion local searches are conducted each month. Clearly, local search marketing has enormous potential to attract a large share of customers to your website and business. Flipping through the Yellow Pages is a thing of the past. Web users are becoming more sophisticated with local search criteria. By including identifiers to make searches more focused to a particular location, the search engines are able to retrieve local information. As a business, if you're not using local search, you're losing out. Use these local search marketing suggestions to promote your business and capture your fair share of customers.

1. List Your Business

If you want to be found you need to go where people can find you. That means including your business listing in the local directories with Google, Yahoo and Bing. In addition to the listing with the big dogs, you'll need to expand your local listing circle and include your business with other sites too. This increases your online presence by making you more visible. Here's a list to get things started:  Citysearch.com, Superpages.com, Insiderpages.com, Yellowpages.com, iBegin.com and Brownbook.com.

2. Stake Your Claim

After you've published your listing you'll need to return to each site and claim your listing. This proves that you're the site owner and helps reduce spam activity and fraudulent posting. It often requires nothing more than a simple email verification or PIN activation via automated phone call. Make sure that you claim each listing so that you can make edits and changes to your listings in the future.

3. Keep It Consistent

Every local listing should feature the exact same business name. For instance, if you own a coffee shop, let's call it Beverly's Coffee House, then that's what each and every listing should reflect in the title. Don't abbreviate and call it Bev's Coffee on some and not on others. This is one instance where being exactly the same is a good thing.

4. Optimize-A-Go-Go

The SEO acronym has been tossed around more than a football during Superbowl. SEO stands for search engine optimization and it's a component of internet marketing that utilizes several techniques and strategies to build awareness of a website and elevate its ranking with the search engine. When it comes to your local listings, including keyword optimizing the areas that you can (company description, bio, etc.) can make a difference in the local search results that are returned.

5. Build Links & Include Citations

Links are pretty much just that - links to your website that are featured or placed with other sites. Citations are nothing more than mentions of your business or site. Through the search engine's eyes, links and citations are extremely valuable and heavily determine your ranking. Two sites that every business should take advantage of are Yelp and Merchant Circle. These user review websites are highly in the top 100 ranked websites (not bad considering there are more than 233 million active websites and counting) and that means that the search engines have determined them to be credible. You can use these sites to fill-up your citation satchel and having yourself listed with them helps with linking.

6. Request Reviews & Get Rated

As often as you can, as your customers to leave reviews and share feedback regarding their experiences. Of course we'd all love glowing, five-star reviews, but that's not always the case. There will be times when a disgruntled person will pop-up and express themselves. This is absolutely not a bad thing. Remember that while you can't control what someone thinks or has to say about your business, product or service, you can engage in a conversation and ask them how you can make things better. This goes along way in showing other potential clients how you respond and remedy situations.

7. Picture Perfect

You don't have to turn you local listing into a gallery at the Louvre, but including a few images and videos will spruce up your listings appearance. Although photos aren't necessarily what drives search engine ranking, people tend to click on local listings with imagery much more often than those without. Share your logo, a snapshot of your storefront or any thing else that might help you stand out.

8. Categorically Speaking

Most local listing sites allow you to describe what you do be choosing two to five categories. Some sites have extensive category lists that feature every occupation and industry under the sun, and others have only a handful. Limitations can make it difficult to choose what category you should be in. If this happens, try not to drill down to a sub-category and stick with the primary. For example, if you're a boutique shoe store, but you can't find shoe category, post yourself under retail.

9. Local PPC

Good ol' online advertising can supplement your local listing by featuring geo-targeted keywords. Pay per click (PPC) has incredible tracking and measurability that makes it easy to see what's working and what's not. The concept of PPC appears to be simple and straightforward, but it can be tricky to execute a good campaign. Do a bit of homework or consider seeking out the services of a professional to ensure that you're maximizing your dollars and ad listing locations.

10. Stay Positive

Local search marketing is the place to be for any business. Unlike SEO which can take a considerable amount of time to generate high-ranking results, local search does it differently. There's not nearly as much competition and result are based on your map location. Not impressed? Well, this might change your mind. Local map results are always at the top of the search result pages and that gives you the opportunity to be at the top of the pack and the page. Do you have other helpful local search marketing techniques that you're trying? Share with us. We want to hear from you.

The vast majority of people have pretty tall orders to fill when it comes to their balancing their personal and professional lives. There's a lot that needs to get done and we don't alway have enough time to do it in. It's a bit of juggling act and keeping all those balls up in the air can become exhausting rather quickly. From a business perspective, the challenges of fulfilling your daily duties, responding to clients and keeping up with the competition isn't always easy, and when you add another 'to do' like social media to the mix it makes it seem like a downright impossible task. Here's the skinny - social media doesn't have to be a burden. In fact, it shouldn't even be a dreaded endeavor. You don't need to push social media to the back burner due to lack of time. The great thing about social media is that it's easily accessible and with a little bit of focus and planning, it can be tackled quickly and easily.

1. Take Advantage of Technology

Being able to access the internet doesn't require a dial-up connection. Thanks to handheld devices, laptops and Wi-Fi you can grab a signal from just about anywhere. This portable accessibility makes it very convenient to pop-in and visit your social media profiles, make a post, send a tweet and monitor activity.

2. Use Your Down Time

Obviously, this is something that most of us don't have, otherwise there wouldn't be a need to share insight on how to make more time. However, when you really think about it there plenty of moments where we're not necessarily engaged in an activity or task. Think about all the times you've waited  at an appointment, sat in an airport, taken a cab ride or stood in line. Maximize those minutes and do a little social media networking. Every bit helps.

3. Plan It Out

It might be a business plan for your start-up, a grocery list for this week's meals or a travel itinerary for your upcoming vacation - what all these things have in common is they're really planning tools to help keep you focused and on track. Same thing goes for social media. Carve out an hour or two each week to plan out your schedule for posting, sharing tips and outlining what you want to accomplish. Create a social media calendar to get yourself organized and plan what you're daily activities in advance.

4. Focus On What Matters

You wouldn't play left field in a game of baseball and walk of the field during the game to check out what the hot dog vendor's got cooking. You need to stay focused on winning the game and that means concentrating on what's in front of you. Social media is full of distractions and temptations. If you give in to participating in every Facebook quiz that's sent your way there's a good chance that you aren't going to optimize your social media time. Look at the conversations that are important and build on them. Network with people who are going to make a difference in your bottom line. You're guaranteed to feel a sense of accomplishment as a result of your efforts.

5. Keep Calm & Carry On

There are no social media rules that state you must write a blog post each and every day. If you don't have time or skip a few days that's fine. Don't let it consume you. Take a deep breath, exhale and put some thought behind what you'd liked to share moving forward. We're all busy, including your fellow social media followers and all of us understand that sometimes that's the way things go.

6. Tame The Chaos

At times, social media can be overwhelming when you're trying to keep track of all those tweets, blog posts, diggs and buzzes. Using some of the online and downloadable tools that are available to manage multiple social media platforms can make the entire process much easier. There are sites that help with monitoring and others that let you schedule and plan your communications in advance. Depending on what you need, you can combine tools to optimize you efficiency and make you the master of your social media universe in no time. So what do you think? How do you find time for social media? Share your comments below. We'd love to hear from you.