Aren't social networks a waste of time?

1. Market your business with expert knowledge: Read the book "Underdog Marketing" 2. Prefer a team of experts to assist you with your marketing? Join the Million Dollar Challenge

Many entrepreneurs and small business owners understand the great potential of social marketing. Nevertheless, they are concerned that having yet another business process to manage will increase their costs without delivering measurable business benefits.

In this business television show, dozens of social marketing and business experts contribute practical tips on developing a social marketing strategy that ensures you get the best business development results from your precious time and resources.

The first of the social marketing tips given by the business experts on the show is to run a robust social marketing strategy.

Just like in any other area of business, you need to approach social marketing strategically to get the best bang for your buck.

Begin by defining your goals. Then, select the right tools to achieve those goals, develop a plan, and implement it.

The key is to ask yourself at the very outset, what are you trying to accomplish with your social marketing? To increase sales? Refresh your brand? Raise your professional profile? Get user feedback on your products and services?

Once you know exactly what you are trying to do, you will design your profile page and every other aspect of your social marketing campaign to reflect this and deliver optimal results.

This sense of purpose will guide which networks you choose use, and how much time and resource you devote to your online activity. It will help you connect with the kind of people who can help you.

The next tip given by the social marketing experts is to set aside a certain amount of time every week to implementing your strategy, and then stick to that plan. You must recognize that, while it can deliver incredible value, social marketing is not free – it costs time, and time is money.

Watch the business television show for free right here to hear the rest of the experts' social marketing tips and business development advice.

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Many thanks to the experts who contributed tips to this series:

Jana Eggers, CEO, Spreadshirt - http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/
Jill Hart, president, Christian Work at Home Inc - http://www.cwahm.com/
Joel Comm, author of Twitter Power - http://www.joelcomm.com/
Joel Elad, author of LinkedIn for Dummies - http://www.joelelad.com/
Kelly Karnetsky, CEO, Dreams Redux - http://www.kellykarnetsky.com/
Kevin Palmer, social media strategist - http://www.socialmediaanswers.com/
Lorne Epstein, CEO/founder, InSide Job - http://www.myinsidejobs.com/
Maurice A. Ramirez, High Alert LLC - http://www.mauricearamirez.com/
Monica Hamburg, writer and social media evangelist - www.monicahamburg.wordpress.com/about
Philip Calvert, founder, IFA Life - http://www.ifalife.com/
Shannon Evans, co-founder and director, Small Business Publications - http://www.bainbridgepress.com/
Starr Hall, publicist and social media strategist - http://www.starrhall.com/
Steven Rozenfeld, YaaZe.com - www.yaaze.com/blog
Yana Berlin, Fabulously40.com - http://www.fabulously40.com/