SmallBusinessNewz

In the small business world, it's becoming increasingly easier to get caught up in the hype of the latest trends in marketing. Do you have a Facebook page? A Twitter account? Are you offering coupons to Fousquare users?  The truth is none of these matter if you can't find an applicable way to utilize them that makes sense for your own business.

That's not to say there isn't a lot of potential for all of these things, and in some cases it may be getting harder not to find an applicable strategy, but the bottom line is you don't have to jump on board if it's not right for you. The fact of the matter is that we don't  know if people will still be using Facebook and Twitter five years from now. They may be eclipsed by something else. They're pretty well established as valuable tools right now, but that could all change.

There was a lot of talk about "shiny object syndrome" at the recent Search Engine Strategies conference in New York. This refers to businesses jumping blindly on board with services that are getting hyped up - shiny objects. Foursquare may be an example of such a shiny object right now, but if you can't find a good reason to use it, you probably shouldn't use it.

You can actually damage your reputation when you use something just to be using it, and you don't understand the community, or how to use it in a way that benefits you. Like 10e20 President Chris Winfield said in an interview with WebProNews, "You should never get involved with something, just because you think you have to."

That said, don't ignore the shiny objects. It's always a good idea to stay up on the latest trends and do some research and investigation into whether or not you can find ways to get some benefits out of them. Just don't get blinded by the shininess.