Social networks have become one of the most common activities on the Internet. This activity says it all, now it’s hard to ignore the conversations and interactions that take place through the social web. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest have become the object of marketing around the world.

While many marketers understand that social media is one of the answers, very few are getting it right. These 5 tips will help you create the social channel in a way that reinforces your existing marketing strategy.

1. Plan ahead: There’s no need to even try to tackle social media without a plan. You need to realize strategies that align with your existing goals and have effective ways to measure results. A well-maintained plan will also take into account that things change quickly and we must adapt on the fly as necessary. Social media is really a new form of marketing, but many of the same old school marketing rules exist.

2. Be active: From MySpace and LinkedIn, there are tons of dormant social media profiles with no activity. Many of these profiles belong to brands that fell, or for one reason or another, threw in the towel. Although establishing a powerful presence in this domain can be challenging, there is no success without constant activity. You have to be sharing, encouraging participation and communication with your followers.

Although it sounds easy, operating in the social space is easier said than done. Especially for the busy salesperson. Fortunately, you can make your presence felt by doing things like scheduling your posts and sharing relevant content with others. Social media is a commitment, sure, but it all fits into the schedule when you learn to use and manage your time better.

3. Share good and catchy content: The importance of content is not limited to your website or blog. In the social field, content takes many forms. For example, it could be the video to share on Tumblr, or just update your post on Facebook. Whichever way you take it, your content needs to be of the highest quality to make an impact.

Maintaining an active presence is vital for success on the social channel, but don’t forget to send a message for the sake of physical activity. Taking this approach will result in the content being clear and not spammy, which is not a good idea.

no matter where you look it is spreading the message. Good content is something that your followers and esteem value to share with others.

4. Take control of your content and measure: Like many aspects of marketing, social media can be a frustrating experience. It’s really hard to know what works and what doesn’t, when you’re not paying attention. Whether you’re building a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or a combination of other platforms, you need to commit to tracking and measuring your efforts.

At the same time, lack of intelligence is one of the biggest obstacles to social media marketing, but things have changed for the better. With all the built-in monitoring systems, third-party services and applications, there are enough tools available. These days, there’s no excuse not to review and make decisions based on your data.

5. Think of the community: Your social media marketing strategy will be more effective if you learn to build communities around it. These communities produce a lot of energy, to the point where it can be difficult to succeed without them. It is the community that keeps your brand in the spotlight through actions, recommendations and discussions. If you can build a strong community, you can thrive with social media marketing.

The formula for success in social media integration is evolving before our eyes. Corresponds to the use of providers in ways that allow it to be effective. The rules are pretty simple, but getting there can be tough, so it pays to plan and prepare before you act. Having a plan and goals laid out in your marketing strategy will ensure that you are ready for anything.