We recently blogged about large companies who have used social media well.
However, I feel Twitter can benefit the little guys even more than the big companies. As a small business, you get the chance to choose and connect to your customers, and you get to promote your small town spirit.

Here is a list of some general points you can keep in mind- exclusively for small businesses:

Hallmark Channel USA has used their Facebook Fanpage to promote not just their new premiere, but also a very important holiday.

It was only six months ago that Hallmark Channel USA had about 250 fans on their Facebook page. Today, they have more than 67,500 “likes,” approximately 5,000 of those having been gained since April 19 alone, when the Meet My Mom tab was added to their page.

One of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your Facebook fan page is through contests.
However, it can be tricky to rouse interest in a Facebook crowd and entice them to participate. Here are some tips to keep in mind in order to garner response from your followers:

Tweeting can cause drama. You have only a 140-character chance to present yourself and explain your thoughts.
This tiny window gives you a huge opportunity to share your news with a specific audience. It also can make you look silly or too aggressive if you don’t tweet properly.

WooThemes.com decided to use their recent ski trip to the Austrian Alps to test out their own product and connect with their customers.
WooThemes used the special opportunity to push promotions along with their regular posts, pictures, and interactions with customers. Although WooThemes already takes pride in their customer service, adding this new interaction proved profitable.

See how businesses are using giveaways, contests, news, and advice to to garner attention and a steady brand following.

Giveaways: Any business can gain attention with giveaways on your social media outlets that can benefit your business. Doctors can offer a free consultation to those followers or fans who post good testimonials about their practice to their FB fan page or twitter account, entering their names in a drawing for it.

You’re familiar with your social media options. Now you want to do some research in order to make sure that you are getting the most bang for your digital buck. Here are a list of resources to help you find the answers to all of your questions.
-3 Tips for Managing Your Online Reputation
-6 Ways Brands are Using Social Media For Real-World Action
-10 Essential Social Media Tools for B2B Marketers
-How Businesses can Harness the Power of Online Communities

Most social media experts agree that the most powerful aspect of social media is connection with customers.

Ducttapemarketing.com’s “5 Ways to Use Social Media for Things You Are Already Doing” suggests you follow up with prospects via Facebook or LinkedIn. Not only will the prospect know you are thinking about him, but he will have instant access to business information.