As an internet marketer, you have a chance to grab your share of the increased buying activity on the Web. Your goal this season should be to tap into new platforms to reach your target market. You can do that via social marketing.

What is social marketing? It is advertising and marketing that reaches potential consumers through social networking websites. Examples are Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, LinkedIn and others. Links to your website, or specific product or service landing pages, are part of your user’s profile. In addition, as you post on these sites you can include an advertising or marketing link with your message.

Essentially, social marketing involves creating a marketing message designed to promote your product or service. However, you do this while engaging in informative conversation with others. Effective social marketing is an exchange of ideas, advice, info and tips between users of a particular social site.

A marketing message is part of this conversation. The thing is those who blatantly promote without concern for others needs, usually garner little from these sites. People on the receiving end of these hyped sales messages tend to tune these people out. Users of social networking sites want useful information from others. They want a dialogue and a sharing of quality information.

In effect, social marketing is like article marketing. With article marketing, you write good articles and distribute them through a quality content distribution service. You’re looking to give something of value to your readers. You want them to appreciate the wealth of information and help you give them in your article.

Of course, you want them linking from your article to your website. It’s the same with social marketing. During the holiday season, the web is a busier place. You have numerous opportunities to meet and talk with others online. You can offer them the same quality information as you do in your articles.

Its smaller chunks of information you present, but helpful information nonetheless. Added to this information are links to your website, or affiliate product links. You can also point readers of your message to other sites where they can get useful information.

This builds your credibility as a site participator. People begin to trust you. They see you’re looking to help others find solutions to problems, or answers to questions and concerns. Therefore, there’s a right way to approach social marketing.

First, you have to devote time to social marketing. You can’t expect to post once or twice on a site and then get reams of traffic. You must post consistently so others can get to know you. As they engage in dialogue with you, they learn to trust you, and the business you’re promoting.

It’s not too late to begin now. Who knows the connections you can make in the next month. Post consistently each day and week. You just may make some connections that lead to extra Christmas season sales for your business.

Second, you have to give your undivided attention to others on social sites. In other words, listen closely to what someone who connects with you is saying. Effective social marketing, at Christmas, or anytime, is a two-way street. It’s not all about you, what you’re offering.

Think of your response, or lack thereof, when someone’s hogging a conversation. You can’t get any of your ideas and questions across. You quickly become bored with someone who always hijacks a conversation. You move on to talk to someone else who likes to share ideas. Therefore, be attentive to the concerns of others on any site you frequent this holiday.