So you’ve created your Facebook page, a Twitter account, and possibly a LinkedIn account too. Yay for you!

Now what?

Most entrepreneurs have no idea how to use social media as a marketing tool and that’s a real shame because it can work wonders for your start-up. The objective that drives social media marketing is positive word-of-mouth. You need to engage with users and keep them satisfied and interested in what you have to say. That means listening to them and responding effectively.

Here are a few tips to keep you on top of YOUR social media game.

Set Goals - Figure out what you’d like to achieve with your social media marketing campaign. Are you looking to drive more traffic to your website? Increase brand awareness? Network with other businesses?  Whatever your plans are, don’t just build up a profile without first creating a result-oriented strategy.

Where Do You Need To Be? – It doesn’t make sense to aggressively build a brand on every social network in the world. Instead of wasting your time and resources on 7-8 different networks, focus on where you’re likely to achieve your business goals. If your business in intensely consumer-oriented, you’ll want to maximize your presence on networks like Facebook and Twitter. On the other hand, if you operate on a B2B basis, sites like LinkedIn or Biznik should fit the bill.

Connect With Your Customers – It’s fairly redundant to sell your offering on a social media site. Instead, address complaints, give out teasers and company information, and deliver value with every response you generate. But above all, maintain an upbeat, conversational tone. A social network is a space where you can let customers get under your skin and see the personality behind all those inspired sales pitches and great products. Make sure it’s a winning one.

Virality Takes Research - Don’t assume that every smart piece of marketing you upload will generate an enormous number of hits. If you want to go viral, you’re going to have to invest in tons of research, identify the right trends and release your posts with spectacular timing. And again, when it come to being viral, make sure it has a positive effect on the brand. You don’t want your brand plastered all over the internet for all the wrong reasons.