A successful marketing campaign will include a mix of "old fashioned" techniques like press releases, article writing and story pitching, but it will also include new media opportunities like blogging, social networking and viral campaigns.... so how's your social media strategy going?

If you haven't thought about social media yet or how it can positively effect your bottom line, it's time you did. Social media isn't going away. It's only going to become more important in 2010 and beyond.

At the very least, get yourself a Twitter account and set up your LinkedIn profile. Not sure how to get started? Begin by reading the help section for each and start reading and listening. Social media is mostly free and it's a great way to build a network beyond your typical local business networking group. The key is figuring out your strategy and being consistent with implementation (that's the same advice for using old fashioned media!).

If you haven't jumped in yet, don't let it all overwhelm you. Start with a Linked In or Twitter account and peruse other people's profiles and follow their tweets before creating your own. This will help you get an idea of what seems to work and what doesn't. Remember that social media isn't all about selling your product or service (although that is usually the ultimate goal), it's about sharing information and being part of the conversation in a helpful way. Building a good reputation on line is what makes people turn to you when they are ready to buy what you've got to sell.
I'll fill in more tips and tricks in this blog as we move through 2010. Come back and ask questions!