Social Media Marketing is really just networking online like we would at a chamber of commerce meeting or at a business convention. The only difference is it's not face to face but all the "rules" still apply.

If every contact you make at a small business community online has nothing but me, me, me in it you will be shunned.

If all we do is market our business opportunity when we make a connection with someone online, that's not social media marketing. That's hype.

It's soooo much better to just be yourself and then in your signature ONLY, add your domain name for people to click to see what it's all about as I mentioned in my hub about residual income business opportunity and email marketing.

Residual Income doesn't sound like a great topic to be socializing about, does it? Yet so many network marketers "socialize" by talking way too much about their business opportunity, their company's products, how great the residual income in their business opportunity versus all the others.

Before long, family and friends are avoiding any "social" events with these network marketers. They are not networking, they are trying to sell. That doesn't work well in social settings.

The problem is, even when network marketers start marketing online, which is a must now a days in Multi-level Marketing (MLM), so many do the very same thing. It's so boring.

Residual income will never result in MLM if the way we promote ourselves and our company is not adding any value to those we are networking with, whether online or off.

But effective Social Media Marketing is a skill that anyone can learn. It is one piece of internet marketing that all by itself, it can lead to residual income.

What I'm doing right now is social media marketing. No hype, hopefully not boring, yet this is still me, marketing while networking!

For example, the Ferrari to the right, not boring and not hype, just a fun marketing idea for a domain names MLM ==> click here, "for the ride of your life! 7 minutes you will never forget!"

Marketing has to be professional. If your MLM company isn't, you can still succeed. Just don't use their stuff.

Socializing here, writing an article about something I am excited about (residual income IS exciting!) is a type of marketing. I know I'm repeating myself but so few people in MLM do this.

So, anyway, I'm socializing here at Hubpages about what I'm finding successful in marketing online. It really helps me that what I'm marketing here is an MLM with very classy marketing. But even if GDI didn't offer great marketing tools, learning social media marketing would still be a great way to build my business. Much better than a hubpage full of...

JOIN NOW!! WONDERFUL BIZ OP!!!

Great Company!!! Great Products!!!

Please, don't do that.

The socializing comes in when people like you comment and add some more value to the topic which also helps the person who is commenting - you.

By commenting here on social media marketing, giving tips on how to combine social media marketing and what works for you, you actually are marketing your self and ultimately your residual income business opportunity.

When you comment on someone's article at Hubpages, or Squidoo, or many other places online, that is social media marketing for you and your residual income business opportunity especially if it isn't full of hype.

Commenting in forums or on articles like this one IS social media marketing and so is writing the article and asking for comments.

It's perfectly fine to be excited about your business in social media like Hubpages but only if it is inside plenty of valuable information that you freely give to your target market.

Value-added comments and well written hubpages will sell your residual income business opportunity very well so that you don't have to.

If you are providing good generic information, that sells you, people will wonder about your business and click on your links. Take them to your residual income business opportunity capture page, using hyperlinks and anchor text that is the keyword you're after.

People who are interested in that keyword topic will get to know you and socialize with you. That's who your target market is - like-minded people interested in the same thing you are, right?

Attracting people who are interested in what you have to say is the key to success in social media marketing. And it will not happen overnight.

Work hard, write, add value, add a few links to your residual income business opportunity or to your affiliate program's capture pages and socialize!

What works for you in building your business online?

How about doing a little socializing here :)

Leave your tips and your website address in your comments below. Thanks so much for stopping by to do a little networking and social media marketing at Hubpages!

Terri Stallcop is an internet network marketer, "Internet MLM Now" on Hubpages. Learn more about social media marketing at Internet MLM Now.