No more dipping your toe in the cyberspace pool. It’s time to get wet!

Last month, we pushed you in and got you started swimming in social media mayhem. This month is dedicated to helping you save time while making the most impact on your clients and prospects. Here are the final five Dan Weedin Social Media Mayhem Best Practices for (those who feel like) Dummies:

6. Be Disciplined

If you are on Facebook and Twitter for personal use, fine. You can read, respond, and regurgitate all you want. But, if you’re in business, you don’t have time for silliness. This is only a small part of your marketing efforts and business is still primarily transacted face to face. Be customer-centered in your value and monitor when your name pops up (good and bad), respond promptly, and get out. You have work to do and it shouldn’t be spent just in social media. You can do this marketing in less than 15 minutes a day. Really. If you have an employee tasked with this responsibility, it might be given a little more time. Don’t get caught in the quagmire.

Here are quick tips on how to keep it to 15 minutes. Link everything to reduce redundancy; log in only three times per day for no more than 5 minutes; time yourself and record it; and learn to scan posts, Tweets, and twerps. Get away from your desktop and meet people!

7. Be a Value-Provider

Give free advice early and often. Car dealers should give tips on how to buy a car. Insurance agents should advise on how to save money. Banks should offer personal financial strategies. What should you offer? If your audience receives great value for free, they may want to find out what they can get if they actually pay you! This concept is about giving to get.

Let’s be clear — we are talking about business applications. It’s okay to include some personal “stuff.” However, your clients and prospects are looking to find out how they can improve and where to go get more. Tell them!

8. Quality Not Quantity

I don’t care if you have 10 gazillion people following you on Twitter or that you just passed 3,000 friends on Facebook. How many of them will actually buy from you is the question. Concentrate on quality, not quantity. If someone drops off or unsubscribes, don’t take it personally. They probably would never use your services anyway. Focus on those who can become evangelists for you and your organization and meet their needs.

9. Become An Object Of Interest

One of the best compliments I get is when someone says, “I really enjoy reading your work. I never miss it because I always learn.” When you become an object of interest, you eventually morph into a thought-leader. People will seek you out for your advice, resources, programs, or products. That’s building trust, strengthening relationships, and expanding your business.

10. Have Fun

I’ve enjoyed social networking. It has given me the opportunity to re-connect with people, shamelessly promote my business, and share experiences. Most importantly, it’s provided a forum for me to give value to those who want it. If you have fun with social networking, it will be contagious and end up making you an object of interest to someone.

Be creative; be provocative; maybe a little irreverent at times. The more fun you have, the more likely you will continue to use it and the more value you will provide your followers. And, if you play your cards right, it might even put a little money in your pocket!

Go ahead and jump in. The waters fine!