6 Easy Ways to Start Using Social Media Marketing | Social Media Checklist #1

The sheer volume of social media technology platforms could make a grown man or woman weep as they try to navigate the landscape and place themselves or their brand in the marketing mix. Here’s a quick down and dirty checklist of social sites you need to include in your first round as you stake your space in the social media world and build your brand’s social currency and  visibility.

Isn’t it time your brand reached out beyond your current base and joined the social mix?

1. Facebook: More than 500 million users. Enough said. You need to be here with a Profile, at the very least, and preferably with a Fan Page.
2. Twitter: Come on. It’s 120 character micro=blogging. You can find the time. Note: Each tweet can be 140 characters but keep it to 120 so others can Retweet you and help your info go viral. Set it up and commit to posting regularly to grow your social influence.
3. LinkedIn: You simply must be on LinkedIn. It’s the yellow pages of business professionals and it’s becoming more interactive and important every day. Resolve to sign up, build out your work history and information slowly and join the digital workforce.
4. Blog: Content is king and some sort of blog—be it WordPress (my favorite) or another solution—is a necessity. You need a platform to post interesting and useful information in more than 120/140 characters and in an open forum. You can link to your blog on Twitter and Facebook to drive additional interest in your content. Blogs can be short, long, written, audio or video. Whatever content delivery system fits your personality and brand is the right system.
5. Calendar: Keep a notepad of ideas that occur to you throughout your day.  These can be your posting or blogging inspirations. Whatever you do, or whatever product or service you provide will be of interest to your readers, fans, and followers.  Make an editorial calendar once a month and let this serve as your social media marketing checklist.
6. YouTube:  YouTube is the second largest search engine around. Habits are changing on line and people are flocking to YouTube with their “how-to” and “who is” questions. You don’t have to be a celebrity or even a polished professional to reap the benefits of being on YouTube.  Create slide shows, photo and message montages and video messages and house them on your own YouTube Channel to increase your social visibility.

Social media is like a megaphone to help you rapidly expand the reach of your branding and marketing message.  But you have to be there to use the power of this medium.