Social networking sites let you build your brand and connect with new partners and customers where they are – online. But to do it well, you have to be organized.

Many business owners think they’ll be wasting time on activities on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere that may not lead shortly to cash-in-hand. But you can avoid that if you have a system and keep a schedule.

Let’s imagine that your goal is just to build targeted web traffic. Let’s also assume you’ve already got a blog where you post at least somewhat regularly. Make sure you schedule time both for getting content and publishing. Don’t procrastinate.

Next, you create a Twitter account. From here, you post links from your blog automatically using third-party tools like Twitterfeed. You do the same thing with your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts using tools like Ping.fm. It’s sort of like being on several TV channels at the same time. People are clicking and coming to your website. It can be great exposure, but it can only happen if you take some time to do these things systematically.

Just like with other parts of your business, using the right tools and staying organized will help ensure your social networking efforts meet the goals that you set.

Linda Chu
CEO – Out of Chaos, Professional Organizing Solutions
www.outofchaos.ca