Still trying to understand how social media efforts all tie together – to actually create a qualifed lead (or two) for your business?

Here’s a great image from Dawn Westerberg’s presentation at the Information Technology Alliance (ITA) conference in Atlanta Georgia on Monday May 2, 2011.

Dawn’s presentation titled “It Ain’t Just Social Media or is it ePresence” included this slide (click image at left to enlarge).

A common concern about social media is “how do  various activities like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and online distribution (think RSS, shared links) tie together to bring about an increase in business.

While it’s fun to use social media to share information – the goal for businesses is to earn a profit. Social media is increasingly being used as one way to increase business inquiries and leads.

The secret to integrating all of your various social media efforts is in the image from Dawn’s presentation.

Your web site is the hub (or final destination) where your social media efforts point. Use your web site to collect information (whether by offering a whitepaper, free subscription to a newsletter or some other special offering that requests your visitor to leave their  contact information).

Whether you use only one – or many social media tools – it makes no difference. Instead the key concept is to funnel activity back to your web site. Then use your web site to collect data on visitors (Example – A form which users might complete so that you can send more information or a newsletter).

So while activities like Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn may seem like time wasters with no obvious way to monetize your efforts – by using content on your web site as the source for these activities (for example tweeting a link back to a story on your web site) you’ll eventually drive traffic and with the right offer on your site can collect data to begin marketing to potential customers.

via: Dawn Westerberg