Isn't it frustrating to think you understand something new in business, like marketing with social media, only to realize that the landscape changed while you were looking at other priorities? For example, it used to be that marketing via social media meant buying banner ads on Facebook, or buying a position on search engine results, or sponsoring some blog entries, but these don't work anymore.

I just finished a book by Jim Tobin, Earn It. Don't Buy It (http://www.amazon.com/Earn-It-Dont-Buy-Marketing/dp/1625351186/ref=tmm_pap_title_0), which asserts that earned social engagement drives far better business results than paid social exposure. Jim should know, since he is the president of Ignite Social Media (http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com/), of one of the best known social media marketing agencies. If you want to get current, here are a few of his bits of wisdom along these lines: