The poll asked: How much social marketing do you engage in as a small business owner? “About an hour a day, not counting blogging. But that hour is spread throughout the day. When I’m waiting for something to download or for someone else to take action, I use that downtime to have a quick discussion, respond to someone who is reaching out to me, or meet someone new. These quick touches often lead to learning something new, making the acquaintance of a peer or client, and often the start of a relationship I can mature offline or outside of social media. It can be quite effective but you have to approach it with strategy and a plan.”