I’ll be honest – there is a lot to know about social media. I consider myself to be a social media connoisseur but it is hard for me to keep up with the world of Facebook, Twitter, and blogs from time to time. However, when I do come across an interesting or valuable article, I’ll bookmark it to refer to at a later date. I might use it for inspiration, reference, or sharing. Throughout the past few months, I’ve created quite a collection. Now it’s time I share my collection with you.

I have included five articles on social media below. They are in no particular order; each article has just as much valuable information as the next. It is my hope that you will find these articles helpful and relevant to your social media campaign.

HOW TO: Manage Successful Social Media Promotions (Mashable)

Tags: Twitter, Facebook, Social Media Marketing, Promotions
Description: Many companies are using social media outlets to promote sales offers and discounts for their brand or product. However, it’s tough to get social media promotions work properly. If you’re interested in improving the success of your brand on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets, this is a great article to read.

How To Blog With Passion and Purpose (Jeffbullas’s Blog)

Tags: Blogging, Passion, Purpose, Content Creation, Stats
Description: In a world where everyone has a blog, what separates the ideas of one person from the ideas of another? Passion. When you blog with passion and purpose, you create instant credibility for yourself and your words. Communities and formed and lives are impacted when you begin to blog with passion. If you want to have a greater impact with your blog or social media campaign, this article will offer you some guidance.

How to Develop a Niche Blog Content Plan (ProBlogger)

Tags: Blogging, Content Creation, Purpose
Description: People are often disappointed in the success of their blog. Most individuals and companies think that their blog will be an instant hit but that is far from the truth. A “hit blog” takes time, effort, and a community of dedicated readers who are willing to share your content with others. This article posted on ProBlogger will help you transform your blog from a regular website to a site that has meaning.

Twitter Tips: 5 Proven Ways to Get Retweeted (ComputerWorld)

Tags: Twitter, Retweets, Marketing Strategy
Description: Twitter is a tough community at times. If you have used Twitter for any length of time, you know that it is an honor to have a post retweeted. Whether it is a fact, question, or blog post, having your content retweeted gives you a great feeling. However, retweeting doesn’t simply happen. In fact, there is a bit of a science behind retweeting. If you’re looking to step up your Twitter campaign and want to have your content shared, this is an article that will be helpful.

What’s Working for Social Media Marketers? (eMarketer)

Tags: Social Media, Marketing Strategy, Facts, Facebook, Twitter
Description: There are numerous ways to market to customers through social media. However, do you know how effective your marketing strategies really are? According to this article, buying targeted ads and tweeting regularly will only get you so far. This article is a great source of relevant and helpful data that could have a huge impact on your social media campaign.

What are some articles that have proved useful in your quest to make the most out of social media?

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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 dhammza

Here are the tips that we posted this week on Twitter about using blogs for your business. You can use Twitter Search to look these up. For the future – follow @FolkMedia to stay up to date with online Twitter discussions and tips.

1. Blogs are dead. At least as ends in themselves. Remember they are platforms just like Twitter – Facebook – etc.
2. Does your business really need a “blog?” you could use a Facebook Fan Page for the same purpose.
3. A Facebook fan page gives you great social features and essentially acts like a blog.
4. So what is a blog? The way info is posted or the platform used?
5. At Folk Media we use Worpress (platform) to manage our site. But we treat it like a CMS. Is our site a Blog?
6. Some businesses use a custom CMS to post current dynamic info. Is this considered a blog?
7. We (Folk Media) use the word blog to mean short updates in chronological order – regardless of platform.
8. Technically Twitter and Facebook Fan pages are blogs.
9. It seems like the whole notion of what a blog is has come into question. Platform or protocol?
10. Does it really matter what a blog is? Do we even need the word *blog*?
11. Think of a blog as your own personal or business media channel.
12. List three people in your life that you know who blog. Make it a point to buy them coffee and pick their brains.
13. CEOs and other executives who blog seem to get it. Does your CEO?
14. List five ways you can involve the higher ups at your company in social media. Now implement.
15. Up and coming blog platform Tumblr. They really make it fun to post.
16. According to Harvard – only 10% of Twitter users create 90% of the content. Where does your organization fit?
17. Ever consider linking up with other bloggers is your industry? You know – write for each other’s sites and cross promote.
18. Don’t think for one minute that your competition isn’t watching you online.
19. What is the call to action on your business website or blog? You should make it very clear.
20. Your competition is looking for any chance to use social media to steal your business. Beat them to it.
21. Not a good idea to have too many options for your readers/listeners/viewers – keep one simple call to action the focus.
22. Remember – blogs aren’t just text. They use audio – video – and photos too.

What social media business tips would you add to this list? You can post them below in the comments or join the discussion in real time on Twitter.

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With all the buzz around Twitter and social media, I amazed to see some business people and non-profit organizations still asking “should we blog?” For most businesses, that’s like asking “do we need a telephone?” I will be the first one to say that blogging is not for every business. Your organization may not benefit from using online tools like blogs, Twitter, or social media. But your interest in reading this article  indicates your desire or need for a blog in your business or non-profit.

If you haven’t set up a blog for your company – the time is now. But what do you do if you have to sell the idea to your boss or executive team? Here are a few ideas on how to make this selling process easier. Consider the following “evidence” to use in your pitch.

But wait. Before you get to your pitch – your first goal is to set up a test blog where you can show some results. I know a few marketing pros who actually set up a free blog (using Blogger or Wordpress.com) without their boss knowing. They made the blog industry focused rather than company specific and were then able to collect data in order to make a compelling case for an official company blog.

Metrics

Metrics are key to showing your boss the value of blogging and social media. There are many tools that you can use to track visitors to your website – Twitter click through rates – and online mentions. I would recommend using Google Analytics to track your visitor stats. Use Tweetbeep.com to track when you are being mentioned on Twitter. For tracking actual Twitter link clicks, Hootsuite is the online app we are currently using at Folk Media.

Feedback

Imagine having a superpower that let’s you listen when people talk about you behind your back. It is possible. Sites like Twitter Search and Google Alerts allow you to do just that. It is easy to work up searches that show your boss the platforms people are using to talk about your organization or business.

Highlight some key organizations who are blogging

What happens if no one is talking about your business? Show your boss the competition. Search for competitors and industry leaders to show how these companies and people are getting and using feedback online. There is nothing like good old competition that will motivate bosses at any level.

Engagement

Don’t forget – social media is more about engagement than numbers. You may launch your official company blog and end up with low click through rates.  But the people who are visiting may tend to be targeted and more valuable. Plus when your audience is engaged, they end up becoming long-term readers and customers. It is important to explain this to your executives. Success in online social media takes time and investment.

Your biggest role as “social media champion” for your business is to educate those around you. They may not understand the power and value of social media like you do. You need to give them statistics, examples, case studies, and proof that social media is not a waste of time. In fact, in the current economic climate, social media may end up saving many businesses who can’t afford to advertise like they once did. Who knows – maybe you’ll be the hero who took some risk and saved your company. That’s worth a raise and promotion – right?

What do you think? Anything to add that I’ve left out? Comment below or follow us on Twitter.
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Joel Mark Witt is a producer, speaker, and new media leader who writes about social media and its impact in the business world. He is also the Founding Director of Folk Media. Send him an eMail: joelmarkwitt (at) folkmedia.org or follow him on Twitter.

* Photo by iStockPhoto

Subscribe to the Folk Media Insider eNewsletter. It’s a free monthly newsletter packed with tips, tools, strategies and resources to take your business to the next level online.

I’m just suggesting that you think beyond the 30 second ad.

Of course TV isn’t going anywhere and newspapers will always be around in spite of those who would argue this point.

Treating the web as a distribution or broadcast platform is one of the biggest mistakes people make online with blogs, podcasts, and other tools. We are all used to television, radio, and the newspaper as a one-way broadcast medium.

Communications online work more like a telephone than a TV receiver. The web is a conversation medium not a broadcast medium.

As you plan your business blog think about using it to start conversations.

So let me give you a tip on content and what to write about.

What is it about my product or service that people want to talk about?

This is the big question. Ask yourself this and center your blog content around the answer.

Your product or service should have some really great benefits and features. What are the benefits that people would share with their neighbors? Begin to write and talk about these to stir the conversation. The guys over at Will It Blend do this on video in a very funny way.

I would recommend that you put at least 80% of your time into talking about the features that people find amazing about your product or service.

Blogging about your best product and service benefits and inviting discussion can really pull in your business readers and help you create compelling content.

So thinking past the 30 sec ad mentality means thinking as a conservationist not a broadcaster. Does it require hard work?

You bet.

But it is worth it because of the leverage your business will gain from customer feedback, insight, and participation.

Stay tuned for future articles as we help break down ways to use online media to market your business.

Joel Mark Witt is a producer, speaker, and new media leader who writes about social media and its impact in the business world. He is also the Founding Director of Folk Media. Send him an email: joelmarkwitt (at) folkmedia.org or follow him on Twitter.

*Photo by -Mandie-