Social media, like it or not, is here to stay.  Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn now have nearly 1 billion users combined.  Adding to it, social profiles can rank highly in the search engines.  As a contractor and business owner, you cannot ignore the impact social media can play in marketing your company and generating leads.

While many of you may already have social profiles setup, others might be thinking it's time to get moving on this new marketing opportunity.  A word of caution, your social networking profile is only as good as you make it.  Social media marketing is not a set-it-and-forget-it technique.  To be successful, you must engage in creating relationships, which means being an active contributor. Social media is about making connections, and not about constant sales pitches.  Interacting on a personal level is the key to social media success.

You may have come across several social networking sites in addition to the three we've mentioned. Though smaller sites might not have the same amount of traffic, they can offer a valuable niche audience. The more targeted the group, the bigger impact your message can have on generating leads.

Social media can be a fantastic way to market your business.  Creating a social profile and interacting with others is a great way to build relationships.  Obviously, the more time you dedicate to building your social network, the better the results will be for your business.