While Twitter is a great tool for social media marketing, it doesn’t come without its disadvantages. The social media networks make it very possible for people to have a dig at your company or make a complaint.

So how should you deal with this type of negative tweeting? Here we bring you a guide to dealing with the less favourable tweepers.
Don’t get angry: It’s very easy to get immediately hot-headed and annoyed over someone’s complaint, especially if it hasn’t been your fault. But be careful not to jump in with a frustrated tweet. Remember that Twitter posts can be read by everyone.

Be attentive: It’s important to show you care so make a prompt reply, but one that is thought out. If someone is complaining about a product or service then explain it to them. If they have a genuine complaint then ensure you dealwith it in a mannerly way and make the best amends possible.

Is 140 characters enough? Twitter posts can often seem short and pointed. This is not the best format for an explanation or an apology. Why not reply instead by email or by phone?

Some things are best left: Every business will have its anti-fans. This is just part of life and you can’t please everyone all of the time. If the tweet is unreasonable or impossible, but it’s not a direct complaint about your business or your service, then you could just leave it. There is a difference between a true complaint and someone who has simply decided to diss your company.

If you would like to know more about social media packages and web design, then speak to WebCreationUK, you can also follow us on Twitter.

As every business is aware, on-line networking and marketing are big just now and if you want to get ahead of your rivals then you need to be working these potentially highly effective tools.

We have blogged a lot recently about how to get started with your on-line marketing strategy and here we bring you two more important tips:

On-line networking/directory websites

Having your profile/account/portfolio on any of the free networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin will help to get your name out into the social networking arena.

Twitter is one of the best places for building connections and relationships with brands and other people, even some people who are considered really important in your field. You just wouldn’t get the same opportunity to connect with such people in the off-line world.

It’s also worth attending Meetups, Tweetups and Conferences, where you actually meet In Real Life (IRL).

Post in forums

Spend some time posting on forums on websites that are relevant to your field. This will help to build relations and trust that may bring you new clients or customers.

If you haven’t cottoned on to the new social media marketing craze then you should be worried. Many businesses are now at it and sites such as Facebook and Twitter offer the ideal place to promote your business and various deals. If you don’t then you’ll get left behind by your competitors.

One thing to note, however, is that Facebook still has seven to eight times more visitors than Twitter so perhaps that’s where you should start.

Still, Twitter is growing fast so there is value in getting not the tweeting groove. Just make sure you stick with the rules:

•    Make sure there’s a hook – a reason to listen to you
•    Offer a benefit – why people should act
•    Be clear, concise and to the point
•    Keep below 140 characters (120-130 characters is best)
•    Use a shortened URL
•    Include a request for a re-Tweet (Plz RT)

Go on, join the social media marketing trend – and then tell us how you get on. Or don’t. (Maybe you’ll want to keep your social media marketing techniques to yourself!)

There are many ways to make social media marketing work for your e-commerce or on-line business. But there are also a number of ways to get it wrong. Here we bring you some dos and 10 don’ts.

DO: Define your goals; target your market to follow the right people; look at what competitors are doing; have an offer and call to action; keep track of results; be original; be engaging; be honest; be active; be open-minded about other points of view; be honest; build a community; make friends; and try to influence people

DON’T: Be too pushy; post news releases; be hurt when people stop following you (it happens a lot!); spam; stalk people; be negative; have multiple profiles for your brand; too self-serving.

If you’ve not heard the story about drinks giant Pepsi and the end of Super Bowl advertising then it’s time you did. Just before Christmas, and after 23 years of traditional advertising placement at the hugely popular US Super Bowl events, Pepsi made the decision to change its marketing drive

Perhaps this seems like a strange move given that the Super Bowl is one of the most watched events in America. Then again, the Super Bowl is a US-only event and has a somewhat limited international audience. Added to this most, Americans are probably already aware of this huge drinks brand, so perhaps someone decided it was time to look at a fresh, more multi-national campaign.

In particular, it’s thought that Asia will be the next big focus for Pepsi. And who are renowned as one of the biggest users of social media? Asia, especially China. It’s also the case that Pepsi’s biggest rival, Coke, is one of the most popular brands in China. So you’re beginning to see how Pepsi is starting to think.

If Pepsi is to break into new markets and to compete against the competitors then social media marketing is likely to be the best way forward. In tough economic times it also makes good financial sense as social media marketing is a great deal cheaper than more traditional forms – and far easier to keep fresh and in the public’s mind.

So if the big brand players are at it – then every business should be taking note, and action. It will definitely pay to get into social media marketing asap.

A new report brings further evidence that businesses are cutting their marketing budgets with more mainstream outlets, such as radio, TV and print, while aiming to build their on-line brand reputation. The joint research, by Econsultancy and Exact Target, estimates that there will be a 17% increase in digital marketing spending by the end of this year.

It’s thought that businesses are keen to direct their efforts into more on-line marketing strategies because they are cheaper than more traditional forms of advertising. It could also be that on-line marketing is more accessible and appears fresher and more exciting.

More than 70% of participants in the survey said they were increasing budgets for social media marketing through sites such as Facebook and Twitter, while 65% plan to increase their budget for on-site social media.

Other findings include:

* 41% of marketers plan to decrease spending on print and radio marketing in 2010.

* 64% of companies plan to increase budgets in SEO.

* 56% plan to increase budgets for mobile marketing.

* 54% plan to increase budgets for email marketing.

* 51% plan to increase budgets for paid search.