Just as the overabundance of SEO companies can make finding an expert frustrating, so to can the avalanche of self-proclaimed social media gurus create confusion for SMBs.

If you are a small business and want to learn the ins and outs of social media, the best way is often to get your hands dirty. Lisa Barone from smallbiztrends.com writes about five methods that are great for social media education in her recent article “How Can SMB Owners Learn Social Media? Blogs are her first recommendation. Following a few social media blogs is an excellent way to gather fresh information. Online communities like forums can get tough questions answered and provide a more conversational environment. Webinars are ideal for going deep into a social media topic, while local conferences take the conversation to the highest level. Lastly, experimenting with social media is perhaps the best way to move forward and chart your company’s social media course.

The SSN Take: Find sources you believe in, learn from their bag of tricks, experiment, then put your best ideas into practice.

David Hardt, April 15, 2010

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