More Social Media Snaps

Comedian Jim Gaffigan suggestion preparing Hot Pockets frozen entrée: “Take package. directly toilet.” Gaffigan fan Hot Pockets. doesn’t exercise, either. loves bacon. “Without bacon, kw water chestnut is,” says. Gaffigan’s ao fan social networking sites.

You’ll Facebook, Twitter, News Corp.’s (NWS) MySpace. ks fans date concerts, albums, TV appearances—and naps. short, he’s social networking success story. one-man band le Gaffigan, probably decent at free time eating bacon stage, social networks blogs proved effective vehicles marketing business staying close audience. business owners, social networking valuable Hot Pocket nutritious.

We’ve bn misled benefits social networking sites. finding tools live hype, especially business. start digging deeper, we’re finding lot challenges. thinking using Facebook, Twitter, business? Be further, consider following myths:

1. Social media sites free.
Using social media sites isn’t easy cheap people think. Sure, mt set account free. integrate services, sh yr blog Google’s (GOOG) YouTube videos, charge. there’s significant cost: yr time. there’s ng worse site that’s current. current, someone’s gg spend time. Ts includes responding visitors’ questions, posting brilliant thoughts, adding graphics, monitoring activity—basically trying generate buzz.

Comedian Gaffigan ss peruse sites time. Bacon yummy days it’s cooked. information—a stagnant site, comments left response—are death social networking community. recently moderated business town hall forum. company sponsoring event full-time “social media writers”covering event. Ty recognize keeping presence te sites takes resources. Unfortunately, my don’t he time—or cash—on hand.

2. Social media sites customers.
In fact, major sites aren’t necessarily ps business owner. mt avid users Facebook MySpace pimply adolescents goth teenagers. Sure, there’s growing nr fortysomethings—but merely nostalgic check boyfriends girlfriends youth fat bald they’ve become; they’re doing Facebook, it’s typically engaging wh business brand. Twitter millions users, apparently actually understand wt ds spend time updating tweets. people wl buy plastic polymer gaskets yr company manufacturers? don’t tk so.

Where, then, sd sl business owner online? social networking sites specific business owners. example, Intuit’s (INTU) social media people business community. Ar gd Bank America’s (BAC) business community.