Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Tweetdeck. The list of social networks and tools continues far beyond those mentioned. For a small business owner, the biggest question you're likely going to face is not whether you can afford social networking, but do you have the time to invest. 

Utilizing social networks and web tools properly requires a significant time investment, both for learning how to use the networks and setting them up, as well as maintaining an active presence and building a community, according to Open Forum (via Mashable). Unlike corporations, the majority of small business owners are not able to hire a dedicated social media or online community manager.

How does a small business owner know where to invest their time and resources? The best piece of advice Open Forum has is to ask your custmers if they use social media. You can find out what sites they use and what services will be the most beneficial to them. Read the full article at Open Forum by clicking here.