The Small Business Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed in Your Small Business, 3rd Edition

Chapter 44

Social Media Overview

How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of one of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it easy for you to be remarkable?

—Seth Godin

Back in the day networking used to be so much easier. . .or was it harder? It was different, that's for sure. Back then, you would trudge off to the ol’ chamber mixer with a stack of business cards in your jacket or purse, have your elevator pitch ready, eat some rubber chicken, make some small talk, pass out your cards, follow up, and hope that someone, somewhere looked at your card, remembered you, and was interested enough to want to do business with you. It's exhausting to even think about, and even writing about it makes it sound like a shot in the dark, which of course is what it was.

But then again, is networking today—social networking—any better? What you have to do now is create an online presence and profile; figure out which social networking site is right for you; log on daily (or more); offer up some consistent, excellent content; find friends, followers, and fans; become a friend, follower, and fan; and hope that you impress someone enough to make an online connection such that someone remembers you and is interested enough to want to do business with you. Writing about it makes it sound like a shot in the dark, which of course is what it is:

• If you don't know what you are doing
• If you don't use your time wisely
• If you have ...