Online branding, reputation management, relationship management, content publishing, networking and other social media strategies are quickly becoming required elements in marketing. The more widely used these elements become, the more important it will be to integrate social tools into your existing website.

This is where Google and Facebook are heading and have developed technology (Google Friend Connect and Facebook Connect) to allow people to connect to websites using a single identity, maintain their social community across different websites, and to allow different websites to share information.

So, how social is your website? Does your website connect with Facebook? Twitter? Digg? Google? How well does your website integrate with social networks that would allow you to connect with your community?

Isn’t it about time to take your website to the next level and integrate it with social media?

Social media can be effective in growing your business, but it all starts on where you define your ROI (Return On Investment). In developing a social media strategy for your organization, it is vital to understand what social media can and cannot do and to clearly identify what kinds of investments are required in implementing a strategy.

It is important to remember that social media is all about conversation. Engaging in conversation with people you help, your customers and clients, and the community of people you effect.

Here’s a basic overview and breakdown of the capabilities of social media and the investment needed to implement it in your business.

Return:

• Brand building
• Relationship management
• Product development
• Reputation management
• Customer interaction
• Customer feedback
• Customer support
• Community building

Investment

• Sharing relevant information
• Listening to feedback
• Interacting with customers

Making social media work for you is simply a matter of your willingness to take the time to build relationships. Can social media convert leads into sales? Abosolutly, but those leads will be the result of the relationships you build.

How is your social media strategy performing?

…whether you like it or not.

Who’s helping you through the changes in technology?

JC Penny launched the website BewareOfTheDogHouse.com that has generated a significant amout of buzz in the social media space. It is a great execution of interactive media that is enhanced by social media and networking.

What the video that I saw from a social media site.

Beware of the Doghouse- Hilarious! – More bloopers are a click away

Here are some points to take notice of:

1. Clear navigation
2. Clear calls to action
   1. Warn someone
   2. Put someone in The Doghouse
   3. Get Out of the Doghouse
3. Interactive & Social elements
   1. Connect on Facebook
   2. Putting real people in The Doghouse
   3. Allowing for commenting and conversations
   4. Sharable site & movie

These elements that exist in this marketing effort must exist on your website.