WhatWorks: This Week's Business Advice

Complete Our Social Media Survey —
Chance at a $2,000 American Express® Gift Card*!

Do you Facebook or "tweet?" Business.com wants to know about your company's social media involvement. Fill out a short survey letting us know your online networking practices, and earn a chance at a $2,000 AmEx gift card!

This week's issue of What Works zeroes in on different ways to use social media to improve your business. Many entrepreneurs are familiar with websites like Facebook and Twitter, but don't know how to use them to improve their businesses Find out how your business should "tweet," or capture your customers' attention using YouTube.

"Dear Dan" offers some tips to help get you started with social media websites.
The What Works for Business blog has even more news and advice on the latest solutions for small business.

Building Your Business with Social Media

Q. Dear Dan: My young nephew just started a business and says he’s been promoting it successfully in different “social media” online. Is exploring social media as a marketing tool really worth the bother? – Social Wonderer

A. Dear Social Wonder: In today's stomach-wrenching economy, more businesses than ever before are finding ways to build their customer base and boost revenues — even while slashing their ad spending. Read how the fastest-growing businesses have adopted social media marketing as a business strategy.

Facebook Basics
By Brian Brown
Facebook is a free and user-friendly way to help brand your business, interact with customers, and build a community of fans and colleagues. Whether you are a Facebook beginner or a pro, learn how to use the website to find clients, create relationships, and impact your bottom line.

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Twitter for Business
By Shara Karasic
Breaking news often hits Twitter first. The microblogging service is a gold mine of information that allows you to connect with customers, colleagues, and business experts. Find out how Twitter can be a powerful tool to market your own business and allow you to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

YouTube Videos for Business
By Heather Topham Wood
In order to stay competitive in today’s market, many companies choose to upload YouTube videos about their company or product. If you have never produced an online video, you’ll most likely need YouTube videos help. To learn how to broadcast your company or product through the internet’s most popular video site...

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Guide to Social Media Monitoring
By Marianne Hynd
Social media is so widely used that it has become vital for businesses to tap into this form of customer feedback and watch for potential issues that can damage their reputation. Social media monitoring can help your business address potential problems, as well as manage its online reputation.

* To be eligible for the drawing, respondents must complete the survey by 9/4/2009, provide contact information (to alert the winner), be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the United States or Canada. Employees of Business.com and their immediate families are not eligible. No purchase necessary to enter or win a prize. Limit one entry per person. Drawing winner will be required to submit proper tax documentation before receiving prize.