What do you mean you didn’t know that they were talking about you, your company, your brand and your service?

Of course they are, every day. And not even behind you back. No, the discussion is in the open. Right there on the web, in the chat room, in the forum and on one of the many social media networks spanning the globe.

Time you got in touch with a rapidly growing information base. With each passing the information is growing exponentially and it’s vital that you get in on the dialogue.

Here are some of the online media you should be monitoring regularly:

* Search Engine Results

* Press Releases

* News Services/Group

* Blogs

* Social Media Networks

* VideoReleases

* Podcasts

* Resource sites such as Wikipedia

* Q & A sites such as Yahoo Answers

What? You don’t have time. No problem. Set up automated listening posts that serve as monitors and then report back to you with the information of where, who and what was said.

Google Alerts is simple example of such as online tool that allows you to set up alerts around keywords. When these words then appear in websites, press releases, blogs, discussion forums, etc. Google will send you an email with a link to the exact spot.

Cool, right?

So what should you be tracking? Well for starters how about items such as:

* Your personal name

* Your trademarks

* Your company name

* Your competitor.

* Your franchise brand

* Your products and services

* Your existing key customers

* Potential customers you are courting

* Key markets you operate in or wish to operate in

* Etc, etc,

The list is really almost endless.

But be careful because you may be flooded with too much information. The
internet connected us all together and now social media is making the
conversation evolve into the most important feature since email.

So, are you in on the discussion?

About the Authors

These are extracts from the new Swanepoel SOCIAL MEDIA Report 2010 written by Stefan Swanepoel (author of 15 books including the annual Swanepoel TRENDS Report) and Mel Aclaro founder of MindBridj.com, a company servicing web video solutions for speakers, trainers and coaches. This Report is due for publication on October 2^nd and can be preordered at www.RealEstateBooks.org.