Being a small business owner almost requires that you be social, so it is no surprise that there was standing room only at the Small Business Summit break out session on social media yesterday. Participants walked away with a number of good tips from Erica Pierson and Saïd Eastman, both of Monster Worldwide. Here are a few:

• Start slow. If you’re just beginning to venture into the social media world, get comfortable with one, two, but no more than three social media platforms. Find your footprint before expanding your social media presence. For example, you might start with a blog, then after six months begin a Twitter feed.
• Find out where your customers are. In deciding what social media platforms to use, determine which ones your customers use. For example, many of your customers may be on LinkedIn but few on Facebook.
• Engage your employees but set clear social media policies. Identify the evangelists among your employees and incorporate them into your social media strategy. Be clear about who is authorized to post content.
• Have thick skin. With social media, you’ll receive feedback from customers that you don’t want to hear. Learn to accept criticism and when it’s appropriate to address it.
• Review your security settings. You can implement restrictions in your social media tools to prevent people from accessing your network.
• Don’t forget about video. Many social media users prefer to express their opinions or provide feedback via video. Incorporate video sites such as YouTube in your social media strategy.

Here are a few social media resources for more info:

• http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia
• www.socialmediatoday.com
• www.monsterthinking.com
• http://mashable.com/2009/06/02/social-media-policy-musts