Social networking is responsible for having created the busiest website on the Internet. Sites like Facebook and YouTube are attracting people in the millions, and this trend is not set to stop shortly. Despite the popularity of these networks, there are some serious aspects to using them. If you think that’s a matter of common sense, think again, because I can’t recount the amount of times I have seen people offering strangers private information that is supposed to be kept that way.

2009 was the year many individuals and businesses dipped their toes in social media. 2010 will be the year where people look for ways to measure social media. Social media measurement however can be a little tricky.

Where do I start?

The best place to begin would be to figure out what you are looking to accomplish from using social media as an online marketing vehicle. Are you looking to build your network, broadcast messages, create community around your brand, drive traffic to your website or blog, or perhaps you just dove in with little thought or strategy? Having these questions answered will greatly help you determine what success in social media is and how you can measure it.

Below is a list of ten tools you can use to measure social media.

With so many conversations these days targeting importance of doing social marketing to promote your blog on sites like Twitter, Facebook,  FriendFeed I feel I have to talk about…

Importance Of Planning For Social Networks Failure

Image by emiemar via Flickr

In fact I think I should say INEVITABLE failure! And no, it doesn’t necessary mean that the site will go down but rather a more simple variation of failure – it will fail to deliver the results you are used to seeing right now and if you don’t variate your promotional efforts – it will drug down your blog with it!

Today I attempted to use Twitter Search tool only to discover that Spammers managed to overrun it with Spam based on trending topics. I don’t like to be a doom and gloom but it doesn’t look good for twitter ability to control it.

Basically tool became unusable!

And here is what I mean…

You have heard it before and I’m sure you will hear it again – Twitter is an absolute must for your promotional efforts, at least right now. It is not only the hottest social network but also a wealth of real time information. Granted – constantly changing nature makes it nearly impossible to find that information but if you use favorites – you can save good info for future use!

Here is list of Informational posts I have shared with my followers and saved as favorites to ensure I don’t loose them:

• TheSpotter WordPress Configuration Tricks – some simple ways to make your blog faster (http://ping.fm/P7A4d)
• TheSpotter Google Maps Store Locator Plugin for WordPress – great plugin for local business to use on blog! (http://ping.fm/T4uWk)
• TheSpotter SEO Blogger – Optimize Your Posts As You Write, great concept, if you don’t do keyword research BEFORE you write (http://ping.fm/qUTAT)
• TheSpotter Protect Your WordPress Blog From Password Hackers With Login Lockdown (http://ping.fm/FmbEN)
• TheSpotter AVH First Defense Against Spam – great pre-Akismet spam defense! (http://ping.fm/JlDwc)

Get more in Real Time – Follow me on Twitter!

1.5 hours last night we have spent talking to Doug about proper ways to use Twitter, IF you are trying to build a business and not just a community. He has answered well over 20 questions submitted by participants as well as talked about more advanced strategies you can discover in his eBook “Advanced Twitter Markeketing”.

You can download entire webinar session here and if you have any questions – please use the comments section and I’ll answer them to best of my ability.