Believe it or not, there are many unique ways both can be used to a businesses’ advantage. When it comes to Facebook, the first thing one should realize is it should be used as a branding tool, not an online store. Facebook is great for developing a strong reputation management system for your business or brand. Without a doubt, having a Facebook page is becoming vital as it allows you to connect directly with your customers.

Twitter is also very useful. With that said, Twitter should be used differently than Facebook. Twitter is about posting updates. Using it correctly involves posting updates which your customers will find useful. These updates can be anything from links to a blog with information pertaining to your business, a photo, a digital video regarding a product you may sell and more.

Many businesses actually combine their use of both platforms. They’ll post an update to Twitter regarding a blog or other and than throw a link to it on their Facebook page. This not only helps generate traffic to both sites but also assists in building a link wheel for your brand.Can’t get enough? There’s more: Twitter, Facebook, Google: Which Business Page Is Best?

Here’s what you’ll need: a twitter account and a computer. Preferably you’ll want a netbook or wireless internet for laptops because, let’s face it, inspiration can strike at odd moments and you don’t want to be caught with nothing to writer or type with. The next thing you’ll need to do, like any other storyteller, is come up with a story: a protagonist, antagonist, situation, climax, resolution. Not all stories need to be this formulaic but it is the accepted norm. The next thing you need to do is start writing.

You would be surprised how many classic stories have adopted the format of periodic journal-like entries with success: Frankenstein, Dracula, etc. Make good use of the 140-character limit. And take time between posts. You’d be surprised how much suspense you can build just by refraining from uploading a post.

And that’s really all there is to writing a story on twitter. It’s pretty simple and, because you’re telling a story incrementally, there’s plenty of room to diverge from the predicted path. And always remember to have fun with it.

Promotional Guidelines
Promotions must be managed and controlled within Apps on Facebook.com

Promotions must include:
o A complete release by all contestants.
o An acknowledgement that the promotion is in no way endorsed by, or associated with Facebook.
o Disclosure that the participant is providing information to the host of the promotion, and not Facebook.

You cannot use Facebook features as a means for registration for the promotion. (ex. Liking a page cannot automatically enter a participant into a promotion)

You cannot use Facebook features as voting devices for a promotion.

You cannot notify winners through Facebook messaging services such as Facebook chat, messages, or posts on profiles or pages.

You may not use Facebook’s name, copyrights, trademarks or any intellectual property in connection with a promotion, except as needed to acknowledge Facebook is in no way endorsing the promotion.

The full and comprehensive list of promotional guidelines can be found on Facebook under their term of service page. Facebook has implemented these policies for many reasons, while they may cause a problem for some they really do serve a valuable purpose. Participant’s information is much safer within an application though Facebook and these guidelines cut back on a lot of the spam found on many pages. These rules and regulations regarding giveaways on Facebook are simple steps the Facebook staff is currently taking to ensure the user experience of their website remains delightful and pleasant.

If you want to be a professional you have to act like one. Adding social media into your work environment needs to be done very carefully.

Think of it this way: Would you invite your boss to the party you attended last weekend? From what I see posted on Facebook, I think many of you would answer, “No.” Your boss and your colleges don’t need to see you drinking, hanging out with friends, or even mundane stuff like you holding your new niece. What your boss does need to see is your professionalism. Keep your social/non-professional social media separate from any work or business related sites.

Social media has its place in both environments. Just don’t combine work with pleasure! There are “social” communities to keep in touch with your business associates in a business-like atmosphere. It’s a great way to keep in contact with associates who could provide you with much needed work-related information. It can even help you to obtain a new job.

You don’t have to abandon your favorite social media site. It’s fun and even has its place as long as the personal is not a part of your business contacts.

One to two posts per day should be sufficient for businesses. You will need to remain visible, but should not overly advertise your products or services. Posting too much is a fast way to lose friends or followers, as this is basically considered some form of spam.I was looking for more information and found it here.

Each post should offer something of value. This can be simply information about a new product, a discount, or other exciting news that your connections may be interested in. Be sure to take the time to actually respond to comments you receive, as this is a great way to build trust.

Many businesses have found that Facebook can be a goldmine if it is used correctly. Just a few minutes spent each day using Facebook can yield excellent results. Keep your information fresh and your posting consistent. If you do this, the power of social media will be completely at your disposal.

Twitter offers a faster pace, and this pace means that your tweet will likely not remain visible for long. For this reason, posts to Twitter should be more frequent than posts to Facebook. While there is no magic number, posting several times a day is advisable.

It will be important to follow up on any comments or questions that are directed to you. The Twitter platform tends to be a tad tougher to use when it comes to responses, but new users will get the hang of it over time. Do consider re-tweeting messages of interest, even if they are from competitors.

Staying visible on Twitter will require consistent posting on a daily basis. Since this only takes a few minutes, it should come as no hardship to make this happen. There are many rewards to using Twitter, and when done optimally, businesses can indeed see an increase in sales due to social media interaction.