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Have you dismissed Twitter as a valuable marketing tool because you own a brick-and-mortar business and serve only local clientele? It's a reasonable conclusion, given that much of the hype surrounding Twitter is how it connects people from opposites sides of the globe. But let's take a step back and examine what this powerful communication can do for the local small business owner.

Let's say you own a small bakery in Nokomis, FL and the vast majority of your customers are people who stop by on their way to and from work. Why would it benefit your business to broadcast your message across the globe via Twitter? Facebook may... Read more »

Analytics. The word inspires visions of mathematicians in white lab coats tirelessly poring over pages and pages of computer data. Perhaps that's not the role you see yourself in while promoting your business through social media -- but if you've ever checked to see how many likes a Facebook post received, then you realize the value of data that tells you how you are doing and helps you formulate a plan to get better. This is the essence of analytics.

For the average entrepreneur at the helm of his or her business' social media presence, learning and using Google Analytics or another full-scale web analytics platform may not... Read more »

One of the biggest mistakes newbies make with marketing on Twitter is this: They put all their effort into crafting the perfect tweet, and don't give much thought to following people. Heads up: This is probably the single most important thing one can do to create a meaningful social network.

Twitter is basically an ongoing, worldwide social gathering. Like any social gathering where your goal is to network, you want to seek out like-minded, interesting people who would be interested in what you do and what you have to share.

The Twitter search bar is the best way to find these people. Type a... Read more »

In the first installment of our series on being a Facebook rock star, we talked about the number-one guideline for attracting and keeping an enthusiastic audience: Give 'em what they want. People on the Internet look for quality content that's unique (in your own words), authentic (from your own voice), and valuable (offering your expertise). And when they find something that grabs them, they often love to share what they've discovered. It takes thoughtful planning and great execution, but if you excite, delight, or ignite someone with your story, you'll find that the hard work you put into... Read more »