Between Google+ and every other social network created this year, the choices have expanded dramatically for businesses to be able to communicate with their customers and clients. Email is still valid and probably will be for a while despite challenges facing the medium, but social media is the one that’s on the rise.

We can assume that most businesses should focus their efforts on the big 5 – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and blogs – and as a result this infographic below by our friends at SocialCast does a nice job of breaking it down for us. Click to enlarge.

The social media world has turned into a venue where really upset people who used to never really have a voice now have a way to make your company suffer for making them upset. Customer service may have always been technically important, but today it is amplified by the power of “word of click“.

This Infographic by our friends at ZenDesk puts the numbers to the perception that bad customer service is bad. If you didn’t know before, now you will.

Click to enlarge.

Perhaps the only thing in business more painful than looking for a job is finding someone to fill a position. Getting hired is hard, but hiring can be even worse. It’s normally easier for an applicant to know what they’re getting into when applying for a job than for the business to know what they’re getting when looking at people.

Social media can help.

The infographic design below by our friends at MindFlash gives us some helpful information on using social media to reach out and add people to your company. While it’s not necessarily a replacement for help wanted ads (yet), it’s still a very effective way to make the process easier.

Click to enlarge.

One of the most common questions we get when people ask about social media management is, “What exactly is a social media manager supposed to do?”

We know they tweet a lot, Facebook a lot, and chat along a seemingly mundane and endless string, but what do they actually do?

Our friends at SocialCast put together this entertaining and yet eerily realistic Infographic about the hectic schedule that a good social media manager follows on any given day. Social media seems like fun and games to outsiders, but those in the trenches know it’s not only a constant grind, but also one that requires both creativity and empirical thought.

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from JESS3 on Vimeo.

JESS3 designed and animated this for the JESS3 lecture at AIGA Baltimore in Feb 2010.

JESS3 designed and animated this for the JESS3 lecture at AIGA Baltimore in Feb 2010.

* * *

Read more about social news on this blog.

* * *

Find more social media news on this blog.

Here are your five C’s to Social Media, that can be applied to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and any other Social Networking site that you use for personal or professional gain.

1. Connect- Your first pursuit with any Social Networking site is to find people to connect with. Friend and Fan those you are already aware of that use Social Media and then branch out. Don’t just randomly add people or friend those back because they have added you. Instead, check out their page and see what things you may have in common. This will cause you to have a more positive and long-lasting relationship with people, instead of numbers.
   
2. Communicate- After connecting, you need to reach out and communicate. Don’t wait for people to talk to you. Instead strike up a conversation, whether it is in 140 characters or more. This shouldn’t be too difficult since now; you have made connections with people who interest you in some way. Just remember to ask open ended questions and to keep the 5 W’s close at hand. People tend to respond better when statuses begin with What, Where, Who, When, Why and even sometimes How.
3. Consistent- Now that you have made some friends and you are now chatting with one another, it is time to remain consistent. You need to keep in touch and it’s not just on occasion, you need to continue connecting and communicating. People will now expect it from you and will move on quickly if you don’t. If you don’t ask questions or respond, people will lose interest. Step up your game by promoting, sharing photos or videos, giving tips and lists or something as simple as leaving comments.
4. Constructive- Think before you type. Being online will not shun you from criticism or negative feedback, and whether it has to do with business or pleasure, you need to respond in a constructive manner. Yes, you will have your share of trolls (People who leave negative comments just for the sake of it) and those who are perhaps genuinely upset. This could be due to what was said or perhaps something in which your business did or did not do. Regardless of the reasons, you must take them seriously and not personally. Respond in a professional manner and always follow through. Just because it was a negative feedback doesn’t mean that the outcome has to be as well. Since Social Networks are public, you can always redeem yourself in your response.
5. Care- This is one of the most important things you will need to do while utilizing Social Media, it is sometimes the one that is forgotten.. Care about what you do, promote, say and who you are in contact with. This doesn’t mean that you have to like everyone, just care that they like you. When using Social Media, your content must be of importance to you, your presentation must matter and even the smallest details should come upon your care radar. Don’t think people aren’t watching, they are, someone always is, and that someone should always be in the fore front of your mind.

Whether you are new to Social Media or have just lost your way, give these five C’s to Social Media a try and watch the sixth C of Social Media grow, which is Community. These basic, yet important facts will be the life saver to you expanding your brand as a person or a business. Remember them the next time you use your Social Networking sites and be sure to share this with your Social Media friends.

Erin Ryan is a Social Media Devotee, who is very active on various Social Networking sites. By day, Erin is a freelance image designer for various online stores and is currently a Social Media intern. You can contact her via Twitter http://twitter.com/4u2wear2

From Mashable:

We’ll start things off with a real-life social media parable about how the biggest and most effective forces on the web usually take shape by accident. Alexis Ohanian of Reddit.com tells the quick and hilarious story of how the social web provided some unexpected help to Greenpeace in halting the Japanese whaling industry. Internet marketers take note: The meme is all powerful, and it cannot be controlled.

* * *

Learn more about Social Media Marketing on this blog.

Never in my life have I “campaigned” for an award, especially a web award. This time, it’s different. It’s personal.

It’s for keeps.

OK. Maybe it’s not that serious, but it’s still “pretty darn cool” enough to ask you, oh loyal Social News Watch readers, to hop on your Twitter and vote for us in the News category. Here’s the link: Social Blade Show Rocks the News World and Doesn’t Talk Much About Twilight. You know what to do.

It should be noted that if we win, I will donate all of the proceeds plus $100 to the charity of someone’s choice. If we win, we’ll select the charity based upon some awesome contest that Erin or Patrick will come up with.

More to come on the Social Blade Show Blog, but otherwise, get out and vote. It’s of paramount importance.

* * *

Read more about Social Media Shows on this blog.

Created by Online Education

* * *

Find more Internet News on this Social News Watch.