What is Social Media?

I stumbled across this slideshow while scanning the Social Media Club Phoenix blog. The statistics are amazing -- real eye-openers for any business owner.

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How Long Can You Ignore Social Media?

I finally did it.

After resisting for far too long, I plunged into the social media pool ... and I’m not getting out anytime soon.

The tools I discovered since I began “stumbling” sites, “digging” articles and posting my “tweets” have blown me away. I only wish I hadn’t waited so long.

Sure, I’m a rookie in the social media game, but I’m quickly gaining ground.

Only a few weeks ago, I was hesitant to get involved for fear I was already too far behind.

You may feel the same way now. If so, you’re not alone. Many business contacts I talk to are still resisting what has been referred to as a fad or, worse yet, an online movement for younger generations.

The truth is any business can benefit from having a social media presence. Once you get started, I promise you’ll discover profits in places you never thought possible.

So for those of you who are still hesitant to test the social media waters, here’s my entry-level introduction. These five easy-to-use tools will almost instantly help you increase your visibility and, best of all, they’re absolutely free.

Facebook – Setting up a Facebook page only takes minutes. Sure, the site is great for connecting with long-lost pals from high school, but it’s even better for finding prospects and networking within your industry. Just be sure to focus on developing relationships before you start promoting your products or services. (Click here to follow me on Facebook.)

Twitter – I’m the first to admit a site that allows you to post what’s going on at this second in your life – while also receiving updates about others’ activities – seems like a waste of time. But I encourage you to give Twitter a chance. You’ll get valuable insight into other people’s businesses and, quite often, links to helpful online tools. (Click here to follow me on Twitter.)

StumbleUpon – This plugin for your Web browser allows you to rate sites you visit and discover similar pages based on your interests and other users’ ratings. Opinions vary as to whether you should “stumble” your own sites. But if you provide valuable content, I see no problem with submitting your own work.

Docstoc – Use this site to post your articles, documents and legal forms. Thanks to docstoc, I recently secured the #1 position on Google for a keyphrase requested by a client ... in just 90 minutes. Yes, 90 minutes to the top spot on the world’s largest search engine probably goes against everything you’ve heard about search engine optimization, but I promise you it can be done.

Marketing Interviews by Copywriter Ben Settle – Okay, so this isn’t a social media site, but I did discover Ben Settle on Facebook. I just finished cramming my iPod with audio interviews from his site. I’ve heard of charitable contributions, but Ben has taken generosity to another level. After listening to just a few minutes of his first interview, I knew I found a treasure chest of marketing gold.

Have a favorite social media tool that’s not mentioned here? Please feel free to post your suggestion below.

5 Simple Steps to Skyrocket Your Website Traffic in as Little as 30 Days … for FREE!

Getting visitors to your website and increasing your search engine ranking doesn't always have to be an expensive process. Here are five easy-to-implement suggestions you can start using today to boost your website traffic.

Step 1: Write and distribute articles. Publishing articles online using a free service such as EzineArticles or Articlesbase will help boost your search engine ranking, making you more accessible to prospects who search terms related to your industry. Search engines love content-rich websites that are updated often.

In addition, the more you have other websites linking back to your website, the better chances you have for higher search engine placement. Article distribution services help this cause by making it easy for publishers to upload your writing for use in their newsletters or websites, meaning any links to your website reach an even larger audience.

Step 2: Use the link building and link exchange approach. As stressed in Step 1, the more text links you have directed to your website, the better chance you have of receiving higher search engine placement. So make it your objective to get your website listed on as many relevant websites as possible.

What’s a relevant website, you ask? A website that includes a significant amount of content similar is subject (or theme) to what is written on your website. For an excellent article on how you can use Google News to find relevant links targeted to your business, click here.

Step 3: Write and distribute press releases. Not only is a properly written press release a cost-effective and efficient means for getting your news to a large audience, it can help drive traffic to your website, especially when circulated online. A distribution service can help deliver your press release to a wide online audience.

Companies such as PRLeap will even distribute your release for free. You’ll always want to include your website’s URL in any press release. That way whenever it’s posted online, you’ll have another one-way link back to your website.

Step 4: Make use of social media. If you haven’t done so already, create a blog for posting articles, press releases and news about your business. There are multiple ways for creating your first blog – one of the easiest options is Blogger. Best of all, it’s free. With Blogger, you can be online in less than five minutes. Once your blog is functional, be sure to visit Technorati to “claim” your blog. This will help with your search engine ranking and make it easier for online visitors to find your postings.

Also, why not create videos to help promote your company and demonstrate your knowledge? Today’s technology has made creating and sharing videos easy … and free. Check out YouTube or Google Video to post and help generate ideas for your next video. (While you’re making a video, you may want to consider creating a podcast as well.)

Step 5: Post comments in forums. Do you frequently have an opinion for just about any topic? Use this trait to your advantage by seeking out forums with information similar to the topics covered on your website. Post your comments and include a link back to your website in your signature.

The increasing popularity of social media makes it as easy as ever to find articles, blog postings, videos and podcasts. Again, check out Technorati as well as websites such as Digg and ContentPop for information you can comment on that is relevant to the topics on your website.