I often come across entrepreneurs and small business owners who say that they see the importance of using social media in building their businesses, but they feel overwhelmed with the time commitment involved.  They often think that it takes hours of time to maintain their profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter etc…but it can be done as little as 10 minutes a day with a few small business social media marketing tips.  The most important thing is to get started, and get started right away.

It helps to think of social media like a backyard get-together – you have guests who are there for a shared interest and you are the host.  What is your role as the host? You mingle throughout the party to make certain that everyone has what they need; the more guests you have the less time you can spend with each person.   Using this mindset of managing the time you spend on individual conversations, here is a process you can follow for social media:

1. Update your company Facebook page – Facebook allows you to create a page for your company where you can include links, photos and videos.  Use this page as a news center for your business, including links to any stories, customer or community events.  Include an invitation to become a fan of your company on your e-mail signature.

2. Twitter search – You have the ability to save searches on specific topics in Twitter and a quick glance through the results will give you a good idea if there is anything to “retweet” or act upon.  Using these small business social media marketing tips are a great way to stay on top of any issues or concerns regarding your product or service.

3. Twitter updates for LinkedIn, Facebook, and Plaxo – These sites have included a wonderful option to update your status via Twitter.  The beauty of this service is that it limits you writing 140 characters.  Use this service sparingly! Also, if you have a casual Facebook profile, consider creating a professional profile as well that communicates everything pertaining to your business or professional life.

That’s it!  This is simple, social media marketing tips that you can do in 10 minutes a day.

Editor’s Note: Ed Mayuga is a sales and marketing director for AMM Communications, a communications firm that specializes in public relations, marketing, sales training, and social media consulting.