I saw this on smallbiztrends.com

Combining social media marketing with traditional branding efforts may be the wave of the future. After all branding is one area social media can help social media the most, establishing brand identity in a way that once required much larger budgets. The following roundup looks at social media, branding, small business and more.

Branding & Sales

What does your branding say about you? Your brand is important especially in terms of how it communicates to your target market or audience. Does your brand really say what you intend or are you unintentionally communicating a message that does not portray you in the best possible light. Urbane Technology Solutions.

What are the reasons for a business owner to sell? There may be a couple of reasons why owners may wish to sell their business, but according to business broker Scott Messinger, one stands out above all others. If you think he’s being overly simplistic, just take a look at his guest post and judge for yourself. Noobpreneur.com

Social Tools

Are you using the new LinkedIn buttons? The Web’s top business networking site has added a further social marketing and Search Engine Optimization tool similar to share buttons already found on other social sites like Facebook and Twitter. Using networking tools like the new LinkedIn button can have many positive results for your networking and marketing efforts. Test the new application today. SEO Tips and Updates

Could branding threaten the location-based social media revolution? Mir Rooshanak argues that it might with brands like Coke and Pepsi lining up to sponsor SCVNGR and Foursquare respectively. This, he argues, is much different than the two big brands merely both having a presence on Facebook. What do you think? How much important is location-based social media to your small business and will major corporate branding effect how or if you use the service. UPrinting.com

10 tools to manage online presence. Ryan Hanley, an insurance broker from Albany, is quick to point out he’s not a social media expert, but we think his list of tools for building brand online are really worth a look. As Ryan points out, there are tons of tools available to create your online presence and the key is to select the right ones for you. RyanHanley.com

Community Building

Are you building community or just adding followers? Could “less followers” be the new “more followers?” If this doesn’t make sense to you, perhaps your goals in social media aren’t quite what they should be. This wake up call to social media marketers looks at the truth behind what constitutes success in the social media sphere, and how to create connections the old fashioned way…one relationship at a time. SocialMouth

Do you respond? If not, be aware there may be a price to pay. The fact is that social media is social and when you behave in a less than social manner you are making a definite statement about your brand. Imagine if you never answered phone calls, or didn’t talk to someone when they came to your office to see you. Jason Kienbaum has some further thoughts on the repercussions of being unresponsive in social media. Business Done Now

Your Message

Why context not content is king. If social media networking success isn’t just about the sheer number of followers you can amass, it may be time to look at some other myths out there about building a brand on the social Web. Take the argument that “content is king”, as an example. But as Ivan Walsh points out, content if unrelated to your readers and what they might be searching for, is useless. Bloggertone

A strategy for building content that works. If the key to great social media branding is creating content that suits your customer’s or viewer’s needs, than the system by which you develop that content is also important. Enter John Jantsch’s suggestions for creating a “content lead generation system” as an important step toward creating and sharing not just any content but the content that really matters. Duct Tape Marketing

Strategy

Do you have a strategy for your social media branding? If so, what is it and how does it apply to targeting the audience and customers you’re after? Ann Evanston suggests an approach that builds networks, adds value, and creates your brand in the social media space. Ignore strategy at your own peril. Take a conscious look at how to use social media to build the brand you want. Warrior Prenuer

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