So how does a small business owner, who is focused on getting money in the door integrate social media or even get started.

The first place to start is where you start with any conversation you’re joining – Start by listening!  Find out who is talking about your industry, products, services – see where they are and what they are saying.   Once you’ve spent some time listening, look to see where you can add to the conversation.  What thoughts can you bring, how is something different or the same for you.

Feeling overwhelmed?  iSHOUT interactive is here to help with our quick start programs

Not feeling to overwhelmed yet, good.  Try setting up a facebook or twitter account.   Start with just one and try it out.    Facebook has millions of more users which may be perfect for you, but finding a specific market can be a bit easier on Twitter for most.

Ready to venture a little further,  got thoughts and ideas that don’t fit on Twitter, but don’t really work on Facebook – try blogging or what I like to call a thought log – I use Posterous, but there are other logs to use.  You can post anything and everything at Posterous.  the best part you can post by sending an email – it can even be set up to post to your twitter, facebook, myspace or website. pretty cool and it’s free.

Of course you can always host a blog like ishouti at little more set up and cost involved, but fairly easy even for a social media upstart!

Finally, the how concept of Social Media is to use these different tools to get people to do things – what do you want you customers to do?

Use your new found tools to motivate and move your customers into action.

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