When asked if they believe that online social networking has a place in the business world, 55 percent of small business owners said “yes,” according to a recent survey conducted by online payroll service SurePayroll. The survey also indicated that one out of five small business owners polled had obtained at least one new customer as a direct result of online social media.

Engaging in online social media is becoming a must for small business owners wishing to stay competitive with big business. While many are becoming more and more aware of its importance, they don’t always know how to get started. Here are a couple quick tips on how to dive head first into online social media.

  1. Join social networks. Whether it’s PartnerUp, LinkedIn, Facebook or whatever, joining small-business-friendly social networks is a great way to interact with your existing customers as well as gain new ones.
  2. Join the blogosphere.  If you have the time and are willing to make the commitment, start your own blog. Customers will appreciate your industry insight and advice. If you don’t feel that you can commit to the blogging process, then at the very least read and comment on other blogs to show a level of industry engagement.
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