by Natalia Jones

Created on: October 12, 2009   Last Updated: May 28, 2011

Social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter can be great for small businesses because they provide certain advantages;

1. They are low-cost or no-cost marketing opportunities.

2. They are easy to get into.

3. They access a vast audience.

Precisely because these sites are deceptively easy to use and cost nothing at all, there is a tendency to jump in without a plan. Even business-savvy entrepreneurs that are in the habit of taking focused action with a means to achieving a specific end are lured by the ready access to social networking sites and leap head first without bothering to assess the right way forward.

The following are some tips to help your small business get the most out of every wall post, profile view or tweet you make.

1. Target the Right Audience.

All social networking sites are not equal. Some of them are better suited to certain types of businesses just by the nature of the applications they offer or maybe because of the following they have amassed. Be sure you are using the right forum for your purposes by spending the time checking out who else is on the site. If your competitors are there it may be worth sticking around for a while, but if you can't find another similar business, you should dig a little deeper to make sure you're in the right place.

2. Keep it Professional.

The informal nature of many of these social networking sites can make it easy to slip into a less than professional tone. Try your best to always present your brand in a positive light by being wary of what you say in a public forum.

3. Keep it Up-to-Date.

Internet users demand active content. They simply will not stick around in a group that is updated once a month. Your social networking attempt cannot be half-hearted. If you are determined to have a presence, make it one worth viewing by coming up with fresh content and capitalizing on the opportunity to reach out to potential customers everyday.

4. Monitor your Responses.

This is related to keeping content up-to-date. Social networking sites are popular because they are a source of live streaming data. If your customers use this forum to contact you with a comment or a question, you better be around to answer it in a timely manner. This doesn't mean that you have to keep one eye on your Twitter page, but checking in once a day is advisable.

Social networking can be a great advantage to small businesses but they must be treated with the seriousness of any other marketing effort to produce real success.

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