While social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are becoming increasingly popular with businesses trying to spread their word, many business owners still need to learn their photo tags from their hashtags.

Andrew Patricio is the co-founder of BizLaunch, a small business consulting firm, and an expert in using social networking websites to promote established businesses or help entrepreneurs start up new businesses.

“Keep it current, keep it relevant otherwise people will get bored and leave,” said Patricio. “It’s not just about selling, it’s about sharing your knowledge.”

For example, those who choose to blog should be keeping customers up to date with the latest news about the product they’re selling or write a blog offering research about the product.

Facebook has approximately 300 million users.

“Any place that has 300 million people, you should be on,” said Patricio.

He advises using Facebook to post a video, provide updates or use the forum of a group page to answer questions posted by customers.

John “Dwayne Wayne” Lambert is a local event promoter who recently worked with local DJs Co-op and Hunnicut on a Halloween event.

“Facebook is crucial,” said Lambert. “When I first started I depended entirely on Facebook.”

“ Any place that has 300 million people, you should be on.

Andrew Patricio, co-founder of BizLaunch

Patricio has suggestions for using Twitter as well.

“Use Twitter if you found an interesting website, or to send out a special coupon.”

He suggested sending a link for a coupon to your Twitter subscribers, like a two for one coupon valid at a slow time for the business.

Lambert uses Twitter a little bit differently.

“I’m big into Twitter in terms of booking DJs. For me, Twitter is huge for networking outside Winnipeg ... I was gonna start a website, but who goes on [traditional] websites?”

If you’re a professional, Patricio says you need to be on LinkedIn, which hosts about 50 million users.

“LinkedIn is for professionals,” he said. “You post your resume and you’re able to develop a relationship with others.”

While the plethora of social networking websites can be intimidating, Patricio’s advice is to use only a few of them.

“You don’t want to be doing everything,” Patricio said. “You wanna do one or two things really well ... because you have to keep it up to date.”

“Identify what will work for you. It’s becoming a really powerful tool.”

Published in Volume 64, Number 10 of The Uniter (November 5, 2009)