All good businesses irrespective of whether they operate offline or online, have few points in common: all of them have good marketing strategies and they care for their customers. Marketing management effectively involves the role of social media.

While many businesses tend to handle all the reports regarding the social media aspects themselves, often businesses cannot commit enough time to launch a full time social media campaign. This is where social media outsourcing comes in handy. But how do you know it is the right time to outsource social media? Here are some signs that you see before outsourcing social media for your business:

When Your business has launched a new plan

A social media consultant can help you in figuring out the right strategy required for the new setup. Developing content and establishing perfect timing and frequency for posting the content that is relevant to your people. A social media consultant will also help you in avoiding the various pit falls in internet marketing arena.

When Your business has just started the social media program

If your company has just stepped in the social media arena then a social media analysts is a right investment for the business. These analysts will not only help your business to consolidate among major social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn but will also help you in setting objectives for the social efforts.

Often, companies jump into the social media without a certain plan or strategy. This will hamper your brand reputation and will result in wastage of money and time. By outsourcing social media, your company can set specific goal for each social media channel under the advice of an expert. These experts will also make your people understand the need and necessity of each and every social media channel.

Your business has faced disappointment with social media results

If your business has already implemented social media strategies and you are not satisfied with the results then a social media consultant can help you determining why exactly your efforts have failed. A consultant will help you in minimizing the techniques that have wasted your resources and time. They will also help you in determining other alternatives that may prove good for your business.

Does your business have enough tools for social media groups

Some business people are excited about social media agencies, but do not have enough information to hire the right company. Before hiring any social media agency, make sure they take enough time to understand your people and develop plans to increase your overall goals.

Social media outsourcing comes in different sizes and shapes and you should take time to judge what suits your business. Your business size plays an important role. If your business is a one man operation, then it does not make any sense to outsource to a social media agency. Social media outsourcing is more than just acquiring a third person to post to Facebook and Twitter on your behalf. You need to understand all the metrics and how to utilize a third party to maximize your benefits. Outsourcing should be regarded as a solution to maximize social media goals and not a way to reduce the over-load you have to do.

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About the author: Alyssa Clarke is a freelance blogger who is passionate about writing. She frequently writes on SEO, marketing and social media related topics. Her favorite sites are Bornrich and Styleguru, which she also happens to work for. She is a social media addict and can be actively found on twitter @alyssagclarke.

Guest Post By Kaushal R. Gandhi

Many people across the globe adore the social media; some are practically hooked onto it, as it offers tremendous scope for being social. People everywhere, have begun to extensively use it, to promote their brands to an unlimited audience.

And yet, there are many people who dare not enter this spectrum, in fear of the new and all powerful medium.

Why are people afraid to introduce their brands in social media?

They worry much about how social media would treat the brand; they have worked so strenuously to build up over the years. There is a great level of uncertainty and fear that social media might bring an adverse effect on their brand image. Considering the time and energy spent on building a brand, it would only be right to think twice before embracing this new medium. But it is definitely worth a chance and has worked miraculously for brands over the world.

How to make use of social media to promote your brand?

Do not use old marketing styles in social media

Most brands follow the erstwhile strategies of marketing. These will however, not succeed in social media. Many people might have tried this but failed, not knowing why.

Bring in creative new ideas

The world of social media calls for creative and completely new outlook to marketing. And every brand that enters this circle must be equipped with ideas and strategies suited, for this type of a medium.

Help your brand to evolve

Moreover, it is important to remember that when using social media, you must work on evolving your brand in this new space. The communication, metrics, patterns and opportunities should be well researched and understood.

Here are some questions we should ask ourselves

Is using social media in today’s world- a need or a luxury? Am I ready to venture into this new space and squeeze out the many opportunities it provides? Am I ready to take that step towards helping my brand grow further? Do I understand the growing change? Am I ready to be social?

To Conclude

The world is changing and fast. Social media is one of its new faces and has much to offer to every person and great opportunities for the growth of brands. Why not look at it as a new venue, to get our products known? It could be just another easy way to call in new customers. Question is, are we ready to do away with our skepticism? Moreover, are we ready to handle it?

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Kaushal Gandhi is Director at Aaris Internet Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Aaris is SEO company in India. Kaushal has conceptualized SEO Traingulation Method to get desired ranking. In addition, he is also a passionate blogger and writes on diverse topics such as Search Engine Optimization, PPC Management and Social Media.

We have been pumping out a steady stream of content here on this site for quite some time.

I realize that we have quite a number of subscribers reading articles and posts via the Amazon Kindle. Which got me thinking about how many readers may not know how to connect with us online.

So here is a rundown of how you can get connected with the solid social media content we are pumping out online. There are tons of ways to connect but I’m breaking it down to the most effective ways for your business.

Folk Media Insider eMail Newsletter [START HERE]

If you are serious about using the internet and social media to grow your business, then the best place to connect is through the Folk Media Insider. This newsletter comes out at least once per week and has practical action steps and special trainings offered. Get signed up now.

Facebook Page

Our Facebook page is the place where real online marketing problems get SOLVED. A community of like minded business owners, marketing professionals and social media managers. Be sure to “like” the page and interact with the community we are building there.

Twitter

Ahh…. Twitter. Misunderstood by some – used effectively by others. Whatever your take on this platform Folk Media plays here too. So follow Folk Media on Twitter and don’t be shy about sending us an @reply to introduce yourself.

YouTube

Video trainings, insight and just a whole set of visual goodies live on the Folk Media YouTube channel. You can subscribe to the Folk Media YouTube channel and get any new videos once they are posted.

LinkedIn

Follow Folk Media on Linkedin. It’s a platform different from the others since it’s more focused on business-to-business. This is the platform we like to connect our community together.

Amazon Kindle Blog Subscription

If you own a Kindle Folk Media consider subscribing to the Folk Media blog on your Kindle device. Each time we post great training or resources you’ll have them delivered directly to your Kindle device.

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media. He is a producer, author, speaker and social media marketing coach who consults with businesses on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter.

*Photo by xcode

Today I want to start a new sort of relationship with you and the rest of the Folk Media Insider Tribe.

Success in social media comes down to actually DOING something with all the great stuff you’re learning.

To help this along each week, we’ll send out an email with a learning element and an action step or “homework” assignment.

Of course you have to be ON the list to get this weekly email.

Read the email – do the assignment – and then post your response on the Folk Media Facebook page for peer accountability and feedback.

It will speed up your learning process and you’ll meet and interact with other like minded people.

Here’s your first assignment.

This is an easy one. Under this post write down your business name, website, a little about what you do.

Leave a comment below this week’s assignment.

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media. He is a producer, author, speaker and social media marketing coach who consults with businesses on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter.

*Photo by ~Temjin

We’ve got another world-famous webinar coming up this week!

I know you’re super busy – so here’s what you will take away immediately when you join us on the special webinar Thursday, November 4 at 9pm ET.

There are four areas in social media you must focus on and master to become successful in attracting new clients and leads for your business.

In this webinar – we are going to walk you through these using plain language.

Just KNOWING these four strategies will put you on the path to success. But we’ll also go into PRACTICAL STEPS that you begin to implement immediately.

Here’s just a few things you’ll learn in 60 minutes of power packed content:

• How “branding” is way over rated and what to do that will actually make customers want to buy from you.
• What specifically ATTRACTS customers to your business online. (Hint: It’s not the design or flashy look of your website or brochures).
• Ways to leverage other people’s networks to jump start your social media presence.
• The single most effective strategy for long term sales from repeat customers and clients.

Register Now:

I get a lot of questions from people about the relevance of social media in their particular industry. I often hear, “Well, since I work in XYZ field, do you think it’s really necessary?” and “We have a certain niche of customers and I don’t think they’re looking for us on Twitter. What should we do?”

At some point, every business, no matter the niche or industry, should attempt to use social media to reach new customers.

Many people think that social media is some new and improved form of marketing but it really isn’t. The use of social media is just marketing where your customers hang out, just like a radio ad, billboard, or sign. There are no special tactics to use or algorithms to recite; it’s marketing basics using a different medium.

However, I will tell you that social media isn’t right for every business. There are some businesses that aren’t ready to take the dive into Facebook, Twitter, and a blog. How do you know if you are ready to engage with your customers through social media?

Question 1: What is driving you?

The first question to determine if you’re ready to embrace social media is, “What drives you?” This question is simple enough but is deeply powerful, as it is used to shape your entire philosophy on social media use.

If your answer to the question was something to deal with being like everyone else, you need to stop reading this article. Using Facebook and Twitter just because it’s the “cool” thing to do isn’t going to increase your sales or triple your customer awareness.

You need to have a passion for people and for growing yourself in order to focus your talents on using social media. You need to realize that the journey will be tough and unrewarding at times, just like any other marketing system, but in the end you will learn how to grow your business and influence customers. If your car isn’t in the right gear, you won’t move in the right direction, as it is with your drive for social media success.

Question 2: What is your plan?

Once you have determined if your motives are correct, it’s time to envision a plan of action.

Social media IS NOT something you can begin and then forget about; it’s not a static webpage with just informational content. The purpose of social media is to interact with customers and just like any speech or presentation, you need to develop your plan of attack. Without this plan, your run at social media won’t last long.

When you formulate your plan for social media integration, remember to think about all perspectives and viewpoints. How do you want your customers to perceive your company when you join Facebook? Are your competitors on Twitter or blogging? What affect will social media have on your finances and hours worked? There are many questions you need to answer before you click the “Sign Up” button.

Question 3: What are your goals and expectations?

Measurement is key.

I’ll say it one more time for those of you who missed it a few seconds ago–measurement is key.

The way you plan to measure your social media campaign is almost as important as planning your customer interactions. You NEED to measure yourself in order to gauge your progress, successes, and failures.

A good strategy is to measure your company and your key objectives before launching your social media campaign and then re-measure in certain intervals. This will give you a great taste as to what your company was doing before social media and how things are progressing after Facebook, Twitter, and blogging.

Ensure you’re measuring relevant data and not only page views or fans. Dive deep into the conversations you have with customers and determine what you could have done better. What seems to be attracting the most content on your pages? How many new followers are you gaining on a weekly basis?

Not every business should sign up for social media today; some businesses aren’t ready. If you are ready, I would encourage you to begin to explore your options and plan, as it will generate some serious thoughts on how to move forward. Also, if you’d like a free consultation about the landscape might look for your company’s social media presence, please email me (or call 410-701-0322) and I’d be happy to help.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by Oberazzi

You’ve heard it said many times before–social media is here to stay. The personal interactions that come from social media are what customers are now craving. Big businesses, call centers, and the “everyone is the same” approach is getting less popular as time moves on. It’s time to revolutionize business and gear your business toward a more personal approach and right now, social media is the way to accomplish that task.

However, have you considered mobile social media? Have you, or your bosses, even considered Twitter and Facebook applications for mobile devices, mobile versions of your blog or website, or giving your employees access to company accounts from their mobile devices? If you’re sheepishly shaking your head in confusion, you’re in good company. If you have thought of those things before, props to you. Either way, this post will help you gain traction in the mobile social media market.

Where is this coming from?

Big businesses and “experts” are showing us that you need to have a social media presence to stay in new age customers. Subscribers are no longer picking up to phone to have their issues fixed; they’re expecting someone to help them when they gripe about service on Twitter or their blog. So why do we now need to take it a step further and go mobile?

Recent studies have found that more people are beginning to use mobile social media applications, such as the official Facebook application for the iPhone and the many Twitter apps. When your customers change the way they contact your business, you need to follow suite. Since people are no longer waiting until they get to a computer to reach you, your business needs to make a concerted effort to meet them where they are.

If you don’t reach your customers when they need you, they will take their business to someone who will.

What can I do?

It may sound like the entire world is changing and that you will need to revamp your entire social media process but I’m fairly confident you have most of the elements in place to take your social media campaign to the next level.

First, make sure that you have decided on a timetable for addressing customer issues. If you are a smaller business, chance are that you don’t need to give an immediate response to inquiries. However, if you’re a larger business with many clients or you provide a service that people need (plumbing repair, roofing repair, etc.), you want to make sure that you can respond to customer when they need you. Design a plan for responding to customers in a timely manner, both phone and via social media.

After you have established this timeframe, begin to take steps toward actualizing this goal. For example, if you decide to respond to any customer inquiries within 24 hours, what do you need to make this happen? Do you need someone checking voicemails and Facebook each day? If your response time is 12 hours, who do you have to respond to issues in the middle of the night? Lay out a plan to make your timeframe a reality.

Finally, turn your timeframe into a guarantee for customers. Advertise that you respond to customers within 12 hours, no matter their form of contact. Make them aware of your dedication to them. If they don’t know how you can serve them, they won’t come to join your team.

Further Action Steps

Here are some additional steps for you to take in order to make the most from mobile social media use:

• Design a mobile-friendly website. Most sites have plugins that you can install that will do this automatically for you. If customers pull you up on the go, make their experience easy.
• Look into gaining access to company social media accounts from a business mobile device. If you’re the head of the social media marketing department, it might be best for you to have a way of responding to customer inquiries when you’re at off-site meetings or visiting clients.
• Respond to this post with any comments you may have. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
• Share this article via your favorite social media site.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by cyrillicus

Instead – authenticity is in. It has been in for some time. Washington Post writer, Chris Cillizza, illustrates in this post how a political campaign can be low key and authentic (we at Folk Media like to call it “folksy”).

I believe this can work very well for business too.

Here’s your assignment for today. It’s an easy one. Watch this video and leave a comment below this post with your one key takeaway.

How can you begin to incorporate authenticity into your business and marketing messages? It’s obviously a lot more than breaking out a whiteboard.

In a future post we’ll break down some ideas on making your business more authentic by using social media and online marketing.

After years and years of Mad Men style advertising, people are craving human interaction on every level…. personal, spiritual, social, and even in business.

As a side note -  Chris Brogan has some exciting projects around this idea of humanity in business. He’s written a book (Trust Agents) and has just launched Human Business Works. Check these out. He always produces good stuff.

Today’s Action Step

Watch the video above and leave a comment on how you will take action today to make your business more authentic.

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media. He is a producer, author, speaker and social media marketing coach who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

This post was written by guest author Victoria Ipri.

Social media marketing has become commonplace. Yet thousands of businesses remain on the sidelines.

Why? Fear. In my conversations with small business owners, I’ve dubbed this fear social media paralysis, aka I-don’t-know-what-to-do-so-I’ll-do-nothing.

Signs & Symptoms

Fear of the unknown, fear of making a costly mistake, fear of doing “it” wrong…these fears consume many small business owners. I’m not suggesting a ‘wait and see’ attitude is an effective strategy. To the contrary, businesses adopting this position will find their competitors passing them by. And customers? Well, they’re already online, looking for you. When they don’t find you, guess who gets the business?

The Diagnosis

Acknowledging you have a problem is the first step in recovering from social media paralysis. Interestingly, some small business owners claim they are waiting for social media to “mature,” so true ROI can be measured. I applaud them for their creative spin on the real reason: social media marketing is downright confusing. It’s also time consuming. If there is one thing today’s mentally and financially strapped small business owners don’t need, it’s one more task in an overflowing day.

The Cure

Fortunately, there is a cure. You may be surprised to learn the remedy for social media paralysis does not begin with “build a profile.” No…businesses new to social media are nowhere near ready for that step.

The cure begins with a plan. And the plan includes defining goals and objectives, understanding what social media can…and cannot…do for your bottom line, designating a “driver” (more on this next week), developing a Social Media Action Calendar, and other tasks that serve as the foundation for any good social media marketing campaign.

After all, if you don’t know where you’re going, how will you get there?

Herewith, then, are three brief, but important, tasks you can undertake right now to put you on the path to recovery:

1. Determine the best platform. Remember: LinkedIn is a cocktail party; Facebook is a backyard BBQ; Twitter is the hot sauce. Often, the best combination is either LinkedIn or Facebook, and Twitter as a complement. Many small businesses selling professional services do well with LinkedIn alone.
2. Define your target market. This takes a bit more time, so grab a clean pad of paper and try to write a sentence about who you’re going after. For example, “Mid-life professionals seeking a career change,” “18-24 year old females purchasing their first car,” or “Young professionals with an income of $50,00 or above.” Knowing your target market is key.
3. Check up on your competitors. Your prospects certainly are, so you should too. Google alerts, organic search results, website review, and various tools can help you keep up. Know your competition, so you can do it better.
   If you’re serious about getting on your social media feet, my best advice is “Don’t wait to get started.” It’s a fast-moving world out there.

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Victoria A. Ipri is CEO of Modello Media, Inc., an e-marketing strategy firm with an emphasis on social media solutions, based in Philadelphia, PA. If you suffer from social media paralysis, visit www.SocialMediaShiatsu.com, or download Victoria’s latest ebook, Social Media for the Clueless. Find out more about Victoria on Twitter.

*Photo by dimshik

Personal branding includes finding ways to stand out among the crowd. I already wrote about becoming a rockstar. Here are five quick ways to stand out online in a sea of other voices.

1) Promote other people

I hear the fastest way to a man’s heart is his stomach. (For all the women out there who would like to cook for me, the previous statement is indeed true :-)

Well in the same way…

…The fastest way to a blogger’s heart is making comments and helping to promote their blog. If you do this consistently, you will be seen as an ally. You will stand out from the crowd. Read about my concept of having a Target 10 here.

2) Make and post videos

There are a lot of people who simply will not get in front of a camera. Do it and you’ll instantly stand out from them online.

3) Know thy customer or audience

The more you know your customer the better. You need to cater your content to your community.

4) Post every day

I can barely find enough good information. I can find plenty of information – just nothing good. And the ones who do have good stuff post once a week or less. I forget about them.

Don’t fall into this trap. I used to tell people that posting to their blog was sufficient. I’ve completely changed my opinion on this and now say that unless you are posting at least once each weekday – you aren’t serious about growing your business online.

Post each day. Make a schedule so that you can determine what you will write about ahead of time so you don’t get writer’s block.

5) Write How To content

Another thing people want is specific how to content. If you post one “how to” article each day (and it’s good), then you WILL stand out online. And please don’t mess around with ambiguous or cute titles. Be freaking direct please.

Today’s Action Steps

First, if you found this article helpful – please share it with people who would benefit from reading it.

Second, write down in the comments the technique that you will implement today. Sketch out how you will stand out online.

Now go take action.

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, speaker and social media marketing coach who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

*Photo by TMAB2003