Nowadays, being savvy with social media is crucial for most businesses. From announcing your latest promotions to finding timely opportunities to engage with customers and prospects, social media has passed from a “flash-in-the-pan” status to a substantial line-item in the marketing budget.

The real question is can you pursue a PR campaign and, at the same time, incorporate social media activities to further maximize the buzz around your business?

The simple answer is YES! But it’s not always apparent which social media tools are appropriate to the task. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you seek to expand your influence in the public:

First and foremost, make your news sticky by posting it to Facebook and inciting some discussion. Ask your followers, “What do you think of this? How will this news apply to your life?”

When you post your press releases, make them sharable with links back to your website to drive traffic, leads and higher search engine rankings. On Facebook, prompt your following to share them by Liking the post and adding a comment. On Twitter, don’t be afraid to use the appropriate hashtag (#) and at mention (@) others – this will further help your information spread across the Twitterverse.

For LinkedIn users, post your press releases on your company or personal profile. If you participate in a couple of industry Groups such as AMA Austin or Austin Tech Happy Hour, then a press release or other news shared – with a corresponding link back to your website – may pique the interest of a prospect, industry influencer or even a news reporter.

That fact is, social media and PR mix incredibly well, and you just have to know how. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Market yourself – that’s why you’re in the business, isn’t it? Your followers want to hear from you, and they want YOU to hear their ideas. Be a democracy – take advice and information from everyone; you never know who has a good idea and an interesting suggestion.

What have you done to mix in social media with your PR campaigns? Has it been successful in promoting your brand and getting media mentions? We’d love to hear from you…

About Dave Manzer: In 2009, Dave Manzer founded Swyft, an Austin PR & digital marketing agency for startups and fast-growth businesses. His team specializes in highly integrated PR & inbound marketing strategies that help B2B tech companies around the world reach their goals in brand awareness and revenue growth. If you have any PR questions about your startup or small business, feel free to tweet him at @davemanzer or email him at dave@growswyft.com.