What is your goal for Social Media?

[Johnnie Firari]

As a follow up to many conversation I have with others, I thought I would share something.

What is your goal for Social Media? Most every time I ask it, I get the same generic shoot from the hip answer, "To get more business". Goals are important and set for various reasons but they need to be realistic and measurable. So many people start looking for a ROI and expecting more business, when they have never clearly mapped out a plan. It does not have to be complex, just clearly set some goals and the time in which you will invest to reach those goals. You will find your goals may be different from others and that is OK. You may have a different goals for using twitter, than you do for FaceBook, it is OK. Be prepared to change your goals as your business needs change. Be scared because you may discover your goal for Social Media is not "to get more business".

So what is your goal for Social Media?

[Paul Worthey Jr]

Well, i simply want to make one new contact a week for LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. I figure that is a way to get one step closer to learning more about the career field I seek to enter into one day and figuring out specifically what I want to do once in that field.

[Chris Tomlinson]

I want to say "Find more business!" but as you already said that's very generic. I would first like to interact with people and then sell. Building a relationship and trust is key to any business to business interaction.

As much as that sounds good on paper, I find it hard to stay involved in conversations with those whom might need my services. Where do I find them? How often will I be able to interact with them? Those are questions I need to find answers to before I can set a predominant goal.

[Jennifer Swineford]

I have learned that for me, Twitter is a place to gain knowledge - not really a place to create business contacts. Facebook was initially a place to re-connect with friends from high school and college, but I am experimenting with the business networking/advertising aspect of FB. And Smaller Indiana is my place to network, meet people who inspire me and those who I can refer business to and hopefully receive referrals from. I haven't seen any measurable results from LinkedIn, I'm linked with business people that I know, a few friends from college - I think I may be missing something when it comes to that particular site. Suggestions welcome.