Social media can be a frightening new frontier for many small-business decision-makers, due to lack of familiarity, lack of free time, or any number of other issues. Here are a few simple tips that may help make the venture less daunting:

1. Set goals: What will your social media presence accomplish? Push website traffic? Sell products? Do customer service? Enhance branding?
2. Don’t over-extend: Don’t just throw up minimal profiles everywhere you can, then leave them dormant. Figure out which sites would be most beneficial. See if material from your domain is turning up on Pinterest, Twitter or Facebook already, and let that inform your evaluation of the usefulness of a profile there.
3. Name’s the same: Set up pages or profiles on the sites you select. When naming your accounts, be as consistent with the name as possible. Your profile should have a concise description of who you are, what you do and where you are.
4. Spread the word: Add social media buttons to your website’s front page, as well as any other high-visibility pages or dispatches. Put your contact information where it can easily be found.
5. Spread out some, not too much: Use a few sites regularly to begin with, then gauge if you can take on more responsibility. Be responsive and accessible. Respond immediately to comments, questions and feedback on your posts.
6. Moving pictures, still pictures: Always incorporate photos and videos in your posts – they get more engagement. Share them periodically, not in bulk. Make videos of your own if possible – instructional pieces related to your areas of expertise.
7. Just talk: Be personable. Go off topic once in a while. Personality is an asset. Don’t just talk about your business.
8. Share others’ stuff: Post more than your own site’s material. Become a hub for people following your industry to find out what’s going on out there. Other small businesses may appreciate the publicity and return the favor.
9. Consolidate: Try out a social media application such as TweetDeck or HootSuite. Control all of your sites from one platform. It greatly simplifies things if you really get things going.