Ask your Friends & Network to keep you Informed. Most of the damage seen across all ages is caused by things that other people post about you, sometimes even without your knowledge. Anyone can tweet about you and post about you, post photos of you...and thanks to facial-recognition technology - you can always be identified and auto-tagged. To take control, set up alerts with your name, monitor social networks and ask your friends and network to keep you informed.

Third party apps are not always a party. Third party apps on social networks and smart phones can transmit detailed personal information to the companies that make them. Allowing apps to access your Twitter and Facebook account, which is what you do when you download an app, could also result in personal data being shared not just for advertising...It is best to maintain privacy control and use trustworthy apps wisely.

Bragging Rights. It's tempting to boast online that you're on a beach drinking a Pina Colada... Or that you gained 15 pounds after your Thanksgiving feast. If you do, you might as well be telling a home intruder, your insurance company, your health care provider and your boss...

Don't talk to strangers. When starting out on a social network, it's tempting to accept every friend or follow every request that you receive. On Twitter, if you don't have your tweets protected, anyone will be able to follow you and see your updates. It's best to only accept requests from friends and family.

Max out your privacy settings. It's best to set your privacy settings to the highest level on social networks. This will allow you to have more control over who can post on your wall or follow you. You will also have more control over who can access your personal information.

Don't Stop Changing. Social networks are always changing their offerings and their privacy settings. Set reminders to periodically check and maintain your privacy settings on social networks.

See also 10 Ways to Protect Yourself Online by Reader's Digest.

 Jenny, Media Manager at W3Now

Contact W3Now for a free quote

You owe responses to comments by your fans on Facebook and Twitter. If you are responding well, your customers will feel they have a place in your business. Facebook is a positive atmosphere so respond positively, be genuine and be transparent - your customers can see right through you. Further, accept criticism - they are the experiencers of your products so they know the faults best. Accept it and correct it. Respect the compliments and criticism by your ROI's.

Here is an extreme example of why companies must pay attention to online comments: Alex Baldwin's Starbucks complaint via Twitter Enjoy! ;)

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now
P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote

Is your company in the process of building up more clients? Do you know what your consumers demand from you?

On Facebook you can create quizzes or polls for a particular idea or product and know what your customers are looking for!

The level of participation will also let you know the number of people interested in your business. Use the "Question" tab on Facebook to know your customers best!

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now
P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote

Invite by Welcoming-

The Welcome-tab is an essential tool. This will make your page look different and exciting. The welcome page is the influencing page which can present a clear 'call-to-action' to your page visitors.

Convert by Enticing-

You can give "special discounts and offers" to your followers only! Those who do not yet 'Like' your page will then be enticed when you showcase your offers but not provide them. This is a compelling tactic that will make people 'Like' your page. Giving discounts and offers is a long-standing marketing technique of course, but in social media it performs as a 'likeable' tactic!

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now
P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote

A lot has changed this year for online marketing... especially within Google. Google Places and the importance of reviews and ratings, and most recently, the testing of Google +1, are just a couple of the changes.

Because online marketing is constantly changing and developing, so should your online marketing strategies. Here are a few questions every business owner should ask themselves:

Has your social media marketing strategy adapted to these changes?

Have you compared your website to other local competitors' websites in the last 12 months?

Do you know how many customers, clients and/or patients are coming from online sources?

Are you actively posting patient reviews and rating on your website, review sites, and social media sites?

Are you listed in Google Places?

Have you even claimed your local business listing?

Are you active on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube?

Does your website reflect the high level of quality, service, and expertise of your business?

Have you done anything recently to make your website more "interactive," so visitors develop a rapport with your business, such as video and social media elements?

Is your business taking advantage of the new developments in online marketing like a mobile phone website, and QR codes?

If you can't answer YES to these questions, contact W3Now to find out how we can help you get up to speed on all the Internet marketing changes and new strategies.

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager

Contact W3Now for a free quote

In my opinion, social media is comparable to attending a cocktail party...minus the cocktails. If you were at a cocktail party would you walk into the middle of the room and scream "Buy my products!!!..." ? Probably not. What works best is to have actual conversation with your "friends" or "followers". Talk to them, respond, invite them to events, comment on their posts or pictures. This is called Engagement...the trick to a successful social media campaign.

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now
P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote