The rules of social media for business (Small Business E-commerce Link Digest – May 15, 2009)

Using social media to grow your business is something we’re all still learning about. Fortunately, there are tons of great resources to help you get up to speed. Here are just a few to get you started:

• Jeremiah Owyang lists 7 questions brands ask about Twitter. Though, to be fair, you could ask many of the same questions about all social media. Stay tuned. We’ll answer many of those questions over the next few weeks here at thinks.
• Speaking of Twitter, FOT[*] Susan Black offered a link on Twitter to a free Forrester Research report, “How Twitter Can Influence eBusiness.” But you’ve got to jump on that one. The link expires next week.
• How do you get more business? Well, TwiTip on using your profile to get more followers – and more customers.
• And still speaking of Twitter, even people in social media don’t always get it right. The Washington Post recaps Twitter’s recent @reply fiasco – and their belated solution – explaining why their initial “the dog ate my homework” response doesn’t play in today’s market.
• Now, even if you use Twitter to drive business, you may not be able to close sales online. And that’s OK. Mike Moran takes a look at measuring your website’s impact on offline sales.
• Remember Facebook? So does the Harvard Business Review, which takes a look at “What your Facebook profile says about you.”
• Finally, I’m pretty sure thinks is number 101 on this list, but, no matter. The list will help you grow your business, too.

* – What’s an FOT? That’s a Friend Of Thinks. Drop us a link, comment or email and be one, too.

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