You can’t possibly quantify the huge benefits of using social media as a marketing weapon. Bloggers are the most prolific people on earth that I know, considering the great thoughts that fly through their minds daily. Even at that, they still coordinate the thoughts, bring it under control, take simple words and turn them into powerful life-transforming information.

And most importantly, they make money from their efforts.

When you incorporate social media marketing into these lines of controlled systems, your success would be widely spoken of. As a social media examiner, I’ve come to realize that what happens outside there is the determining factor to your success or failure.

If you’re not well spoken of outside the blogosphere, growing your blog is like climbing Mount Everest. Make it worthwhile; follow these five tested social media marketing ideas and blossom like the hibiscus flower.

1. Organize Your Priorities

What is your motivating factor in business? Is it money, fame, influence, Google top 10 or what? Until you answer this question, every other step you take would be leading you off the celebration path.

You’ve got to set your priorities right and pinpoint one thing that moves you.

This unique “pusher” is what sharpens your actions whether you realize it or not. A lot of bloggers are so desperate for money and that has become the pivot that controls them. Off course you would know a money-conscious blogger or writer; look at the words and sentences they use. It’s going to sound cheesy and full of marketing fallacies.

We’re yet to answer the question on what your motivation factor is. Point #3 has all the answers. Read on…

2. Put Money Where It Belongs

We all know that the world revolves around money and all the things it can afford. But be warned, when making money at the expense of your prospects’ becomes your controlling force, the journey begins to cower.

No matter what strategies you use, it would still come to futility until you bend your knees and put money where it belongs. You make money by solving problems. It may be an internet marketing problem, a health related problems like viral tosillitis disorder. Whatever it, ensure you solve that problem before asking for rewards.

Let me illustrate -

When an author launches his book and starts selling, there is a kind of exchange going on. You hand him your money and he delivers the book to you. At that moment, he still has the copyright to that information, but the book has become yours forever.

Where does the money go then?

To the author but that happened right after an exchange. So, before you can make money from your blog, your affiliate site, or from any other legal online business, you’ve got to give first before you extend your hands to receive.

The question is, “what are you giving that is worthy of monetary exchange?” Think about it and consider this next line…

3. Put Prospects First

Pleasing prospects should be your motivating factor!

As we put God first in everything that matters to us, in business we should put prospects first. When prospects become your first priority, your chances of growing and expanding is highly improved.

A prospect is someone you’re marketing to. He/she is still contemplating whether you’re the right person with the right solution. At this point in their lives, they are weary of internet marketers. Who knows if they have fallen prey to some B.S marketers?

By giving out the best information in a timely and interesting manner, the odds of losing that one prospect is diminished. Bring out the best in them by being honest, timely and concerned.

4. See Prospects As Friends

Time has come when your social media marketing activities should move a step ahead.

The competition is getting hotter by the second, if you don’t create new means to communicate with your twitter followers, facebook friends and social fans; it’s going to be pretty difficult converting them into customers.

But you can see them as friends?

How do you relate with a great friend? The cordial and mutual relationships that exist between friends are usually stronger than family ties. For my niche blog that reviews sittercity coupon and 6pm.com discounts, my subscribers are addressed as friends.

This has increased my conversion rate each time I send out my bi-weekly newsletter. Everyone needs a friend, be their friend and bring them closer to your business. It’s a lot easier to recommend a new product/service to a friend than a stranger. Think about it.

5. Invest time wisely in social media marketing

Where are you from?

United States use Dollar as their currency. Japan’s currency is the Yen. Well, the earth is also a great nation that housed several sub-nations scattered the world over. The earth surely has a currency and it’s “TIME.”

Time is the currency of the earth and if you trade it wisely, you’ll exchange a lot of and make more money. Everyone is allotted 24 hours every day, how do you spend it when there is so much to do?

Isn’t it better to achieve 10 results in a day than achieving 3? Here is the rule of thumb: automate your social media marketing campaigns. Instead of posting on twitter every day when you barely have time to write quality articles, use automation tools like twaitter.com to make it faster. With thousands of social media tools out there, you can’t run out of marketing offers and contents.

Jane’s note: I use Tweetadder to automate a lot of my Twitter tasks!

Social media marketing: Time for action

A business that lacks social media marketing ideas like above is bound to scale slowly. You can’t possibly trust your personal instinct at all times with the hope that all would be well in future. You’ve got to take the right actions, have clear written goals and be ready to make adjustments when the need arise.

I’m giving you a wake-up call. Business success is a by-product of stepping out and doing the “extra.” Set your priorities right and see you ahead!

Michael Chibuzor is applying what he has learned about social media to his fitness blog WeightLossTriumph.com, where among other things he offers a coupon code for Sittercity. See his review of 6pm and use his coupon codes to get free shipping. You can find all kinds of discounts coupons in his blog. Sittercity is an American website that brings together families, individuals and corporate employees with local in-home care. 6pm caters to customers who are looking for a large selection of discounted shoes, bags, and clothing.