According to eMarketer.com, in 2011, four out of five US businesses with 100 or more employees will use social media marketing. That’s a dramatic change from 2008 when just 42% of companies marketed via social media. As consumer usage of social media continues to increase in the US and around the world, marketers have transitioned from cautious engagement to full deployment.

Companies need to do more than just set up a facebook fan page and wait to see what happens.  In my experience many businesses using social media in Orange County and the Inland Empire don't know how to truly engage their audience.  Their messaging is 100% sales oriented and lacks any opportunity for their prospective clients to join the conversation. If you have an on-site blog (which is better than wordpress), use that as the foundation for your social media posts.  Then use ping.fm to blast your posting out to all of your various social media channels.  Be sure to write informative articles that provide value to the readers.  This not only positions you as an expert in your industry but it increases the chance for interaction.  This is where the fun begins.  It only takes a few good comments to truly get the conversation started.  Make sure to be an active participant and acknowledge your audience.

If you're serious about engaging in social media marketing, consult an expert and make sure your time, money and efforts are spent wisely.