Traditionally, the content and frequency of marketing programs was the exclusive domain of external agencies such as advertising and marketing research firms. However, with the advent of social media, it has become possible to use web-based technology to encourage interactive communication. This is often referred to as consumer generated media, because it is driven by end-users. Social media marketing is therefore, the method by which businesses utilize social online media channels, to connect with their target markets.

Social media marketing also involves social media optimization or SMO. It is referred to in this way, because its emphasis is on achieving website optimization, which is the process of improving a site’s visibility on the web. Social media includes social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, blogs, video sharing such as YouTube, social bookmarking sites like Digg, Reddit, presentation sharing, photo sharing and the ever popular Meetup website. It is also synonymous with Social Network Marketing. This involves the use of social networking sites to market products and services, as well as to engage in public relation activities.

By using a technique known as viral marketing, marketers are able to use these websites to improve product sales, and increase brand awareness. This marketing method is referred to as being viral because in essence, it is passed from person to person, via the social network sites. Text messages, images, video clips, and games, are just some of the tools used in viral marketing promotions. The success of a viral marketing program is dependent on targeting and focusing on people with large social networks, who have a significant influence on their network. This will ensure that the advertising message gains optimum visibility.

Social media marketing is increasingly being seen by business owners, as an important part of their integrated marketing program, which can assist them in growing their business. Studies indicate that business owners, who commit a minimum of 6 hours per week on social marketing programs, have been able to generate at least 50% more exposure for their business. Along with this, they have been able to attract more traffic to their website, gain qualified leads, and create new business partnerships.

To get started with social media marketing, you will of course have to join one of the top social media sites. In an April 2010 Social Media Marketing Report by Michael Stelzner, experienced marketers identified Twitter as their number one social networking platform, with blogs following closely in second place. For beginner marketers, Facebook is ranked as their number one choice closely followed by Twitter and LinkedIn.

One important way in which you can maximize the benefit of using a social networking site, is to build relationships. If you are using Twitter, for example, you can start seeking out the top tweeters in your niche and even in your local area. Having identified these people, you can then begin participating in discussions, and become involved in the promotion of important events and products. Also make sure to respond to tweets, and encourage retweeting as much as possible.

Other benefits to be derived from social marketing effectively include getting marketing feedback, as well as linking with key players in the industry. These links will of course be cross-cultural, as well as international and will therefore extend your market penetration.

Social network marketing is very consumer focused. Through the use of social media, it is possible to put the spotlight on what people need, rather than on persuading them to buy something that you have already produced. The feedback you get is able to guide your product development, and focus your marketing efforts on what is important to your bottom line.

As I mentioned in one of my previous articles, Social Media has became extremely popular in the last few years.

Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube are growing faster than any other type of social communication.

Social Media is an enormous untapped source of leads, prospects and business partners for YOUR business and best of all it is FREE.

Therefore, in order to benefit from the social media madness, you will have to know how exactly to monetize this ultimate untapped source of potential business partners.

This is exactly what I am going to be covering today. I want to show you exactly what you need to do in order to generate results with social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace.

However, Before I get into the specific details of how you should be using each one of the mentioned above sites, I would like to point out one thing. The ultimate purpose of every single social media website is Relationship Building. This is the sole purpose you should be driven by when you join a group on Facebook or sending out a Tweet.

Relationship Building is an essential ingredient to a Successful Internet Marketing Business and the sooner you grasp this concept the better.

Let’s get started!

MySpace

Only a year ago, MySpace was the biggest and fastest growing community on the Internet with more than 240 Million registered users. Today MySpace has lost it’s popularity with the users but it hasn’t lost it with the search engines.

To this day, MySpace is one of the first sources Google turns to when in need of information. What this means is that you can use it for your benefit by creating different MySpace profiles to generate more Search Engine Traffic for your particular business/opportunity.

Don’t get me wrong here, it doesn’t mean that you must use it only for that. You still have the opportunity to socialize on MySpace quite effectively, but right now, the main benefit of MySpace in my eyes is the SEO juice that you can squeeze out of it.

Twitter

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length, which are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them also known as followers.

Twitter is an amazing social network, which really qualifies for the expression “Social Media Madness”. If you don’t know what I mean, just get yourself over four thousand followers, as I did, and you will see exactly what I mean. My Twitter home page is pure madness and socializing on Twitter without a client is not an option anymore.

Nevertheless, what makes Twitter unique besides the 140 character limit is the ability to Drive Massive Viral Traffic to Your Website.

Twitter is the easiest tool to drive traffic with especially if you are running a blog or a newsletter, it has an insane Viral Power Potential to it.

If you ever heard an expression “Word of Mouth Marketing” and did not know what it mean, than Twitter explains it very well. Just imagine if your Tweet with a link back to your site goes viral. Imagine the tweet being ReTweeted about 300 times. Imagine if each of those ReTweets only generated 3-4 clicks at a time, how much traffic would you get?

That’s right-A LOT!

YouTube

YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. Three former PayPal employees created YouTube in February 2005. In November 2006, YouTube was bought by Google for US$1.65 billion, and is now operated as a subsidiary of Google.

YouTube, being the biggest video sharing network online, is a great place to do some video marketing. But Why is Video Marketing so damn important? Why is it so Crucial that you do it? Yes, that’s right! Relationship Building.

Can you think of a better way of establishing a relationship with a complete stranger? What can be more powerful when it comes down to building trust with another person on the internet than video? What can make more impact on that person than watching You move, listen to You talk and hearing Your thoughts coming out of Your mouth instead of reading them on his 15” laptop screen?

If you can think of a better way of doing it(besides live conversation with a web cam, of course) than please, be my guest and reveal it to me, because to this day, I haven’t found something better then Video Marketing.

Facebook

A Harvard University student originally founded Facebook with couple of his roommates in order to create a virtual community exclusive to the Harvard University attendees. Website membership was initially limited but later expended to other colleagues until later on Facebook became available to anyone aged 13 and over.

Right now Facebook is one of the biggest social communities with over 200 million active users. However, what makes it different from MySpace, Twitter and YouTube than? Why is it so essential for your Social Media Domination plan?

Well, personally, I can’t answer that question with a specific benefit. Facebook is just a great place to Build STRONG, BULLETPROOF, ROCK SOLID Relationships. I haven’t yet found a community where people are more open and ready to socialize with complete strangers all over the planet.

To me, Facebook is like another huge family. I truly admire and respect every single one of my Facebook friends. It is so easy to get to know people and connect with them on Facebook. It is so easy to get lost in endless chats and conversations there.

I have many of my friends, simply leading another Life there! Facebook is very easy to fall in love with and it definitely leaves other Social Networks in the dust when it comes down to building a strong long lasting relationship with a complete stranger.

Having shared these insight with you, I only wish to point out one more time that your main goal on any single social media site and in every single social community should be first to Build Relationships while driving traffic and generating leads second.

I run a small offline business which in recent months has enjoyed a very nice upswing in business thanks to the internet. This was no accident – I’ve been working hard on my marketing for about a year. Much of this effort was spent learning how to market my business online.

During this process of getting it right, I’ve bought some garbage courses and information. But, within the piles of garbage I’ve also bought some real gems that without I’d not be enjoying my recent surge in sales and new customers.

As I look back about what’s were good purchases for learning marketing and which were not useful at all, I’ve come up with the following criteria to look for when choosing a business marketing guide or system.

3 Criteria When Choosing a Small Business Marketing System:

1. Don’t buy a small business marketing system that promises to teach you everything about marketing. What you’ll often get is a lot of fluff and little substance. You’ll probably know most of the information already in the massive “all-in-one” marketing kits.

No marketing author can tell you about print advertising, SEO, social media, referrals, viral marketing, e-mail marketing, direct marketing, TV ads, etc. Each of these topics on their own are self-contained guides or systems.

Instead, know exactly what you wish to learn about or improve, and buy a business marketing guide that caters to your need specifically.

2. Don’t buy from someone who doesn’t have real-life marketing experience. You preferably want to buy from someone who actually runs a small business and does their own marketing.

There are hundreds of people who write about marketing and sell “marketing systems” but have never done it for real.

3. Be prepared to do the work yourself – or at least do some of it so you get a hands-on education so you can properly hire people to implement the marketing activities taught. If you’re not prepared to roll up your sleeves and take action, no business marketing system will work for you.

In my view the best type of business marketing guide to buy is one that teaches you how to hone your online marketing. Focusing my marketing activities on the Internet has by far worked the best for me during the last 6 to 12 months.