IntroductionYou can dive into social media head-first and see what happens, or you can take the time to research, evaluate, plan and execute your approach. I choose the second option. It's easy to get carried away and blindly create profiles on new social media platforms, regardless of whether your target audience is even present. With a smartphone in your pocket, it's easy to post content and release it to the world. But, what's the point?There are lots of 'how to' books on social media, and no end of blogs, but there are few that address the fear that many people have about using social media - the fear of not really knowing what to do, and not wanting to get it wrong.My aim, in writing this book, is to bring the business of social media back to basics: to compare the new with the traditional, to adopt a planned approach, and to ensure that you know how you can get results for your business.Who is this book for?If you're a marketer or a business owner, director, manager with responsibility for marketing, this book is for you. If you're involved in customer service, recruitment or sales you will also find this helpful to your day-to-day role.

You'll probably be using social media already, but know you could be using it better.What you will learn in this book* That social media is not just about technology* That everything needs to start with why* What the point of social media is* Which social media platform/s you should be using* That social media is not a strategy* How to get ready to do business on social media* Why you need to listen first, then engage* That marketing is all about telling stories to the right people, at the right point in the buying process* That the power of content lies in its potential to start a conversation* If you know what you're looking for, you can focus on the measurements that matter. Wherever the future lies with social media, it's only one channel of communication. So relax!The only thing we can be certain of with social media is that it will change, so let's embrace change and focus on knowing where we want to be, and on developing a plan that will help get us there.