You might have noticed the trend when going to your favorite restaurant, the bakery, the gym, probably even your dentist: everyone is on Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Groupon… you get the idea.

So if you’re ready to join the ranks of the eternally social, listen up. Social Media Today has given us the 411 (or maybe the 1-5) of digging into the social scene. While it might seem like a no-brainer (create a Facebook page, duh), there’s a lot more to effective social marketing than just establishing a presence.

But that’s a great first step.

Additionally, success in social media marketing takes a whole lot of self-awareness. To start, set good, old-fashioned goals, knowing what you want to accomplish. Making clear targets can help you make the best decisions for your business by keeping the common goal in mind.

Next, get to know your ideal client. Figure out what they want and what motivates them. Discover how they buy, why they buy and what you can do to motivate them.

Thirdly, know exactly what it is that makes your company different. If you know how you’re unique, your marketing scheme just got a whole lot easier. On the same wavelength, understand the value that you have to offer your customers.

Time to get real.

How much time and money can you realistically spend on marketing? Which activities or promotions are feasible? What resources are out there to support your social media goals (cough – NeONBRAND – cough)?

We know we’re asking the hard questions – but Facebook isn’t for dummies. Read more about this topic by clicking here.