The big buzz these days is to use social marketing to boost sales and communicate with customers. But before jump on the bandwagon and start using sites like Twitter, Facebook and others, figure out why you want to use these sites and the results you are hoping to gain. Also, find out if your target market is using these sites. Otherwise, you could waste a lot of time and effort.

If you decide to move forward with a Twitter account, Facebook page or other social media sites, have a plan of action. It can be easy to start something new and exciting and then let it slide as other priorities come up. But with these social media sites, you want to be current and provide valuable information on a regular basis. Assign someone to be in charge of these pages, and monitor results daily. This way, you can track your progress and make necessary changes to meet your goals.