Aren’t you on Twitter? Don’t you have a Facebook page? Quick jump on the social media bandwagon! I bet you’ve heard — or read — some variation of this.

But social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook aren’t for everyone or every business. (If you’re wondering, yes, I have a Twitter account, but, no, my business doesn’t have a Facebook page — yet).

How can you determine if it’s time for you to sign up for Twitter or Facebook? And if it is time, how do you start?

Two articles at Mashable, “The Social Media Guide,” offer excellent guidance on how — and whether — your business should begin using sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Among their suggestions:

• Consider your audience: who are they, what social media tools are they using, how can you reach them?
• Take it slowly, and set goals. What do you hope to gain from using social media? Do you want to promote your services/products or build relationships?
• Don’t give up. “Don’t expect a case of build it and they will come.” Once you’ve created a presence on Facebook or Twitter, you’re going to have to put time into it to promote your business.

The notion of getting into social media might seem overwhelming for any small business. Spending time upfront before launch to create a plan with goals that includes how to translate that social media presence into dollars will go a long way toward achieving success. — Leah Betancourt, Mashable

• 5 Ways Businesses Can Avoid Social Media Panic
• 4 Myths About Social Media and Business

What About LinkedIn?

In my opinion, if you have a business, are employed by one, or are looking for work, you should have a LinkedIn profile. Even if you do not actively use LinkedIn, think of your profile as an online resume and a way to build contacts with others in your field. It can be much more than that if you’d like, but as with all social networking sites, you’ll need to devote time and work to reap benefits.

You might also be interested in reading my other posts on using social media.

Do you have a question about using social media? Post a comment below, and I’ll answer.

Photo: Lululemon Althetica