As often happens with the jewelry industry, a recent debate on social media advertising led to valuable insights from industry professionals.

To further fuel the discussion, here are five worthwhile reads on the relationship between social media and small businesses.

1. An article from USA Today quotes one small business owner who credits Pinterest for “amplifying his online sales to 50 percent of his current business.” A CEO quoted in the article also suggests “small retailers engaged in e-commerce should explore Pinterest—especially if their products have strong visual appeal.”

2. Should small businesses follow everyone back on Twitter? An article I found on Mashable.com this article makes the case for and against, and then opens the topic up for debate. What do you think is the best strategy for jewelers? Does your social media person follow everyone who chooses to follow your company?

3. Here are six pitfalls to retailers should avoid in order make your social media experience a success. The two mistakes that stood out for me were “not having a defined strategy” and believing that social media is “all about sales.” The overall list is one that jewelers who are just starting to develop a social media plan should consult as they go through the process.

4. Measuring ROI of social media was a concern that some jewelers brought up in the debate over the weekend. This article from The Globe and Mail gives small business owners some things to look for when trying to determine if their social media efforts are paying off.

5. An article from BusinessInsider.com cites a study that discovered the main reason small business owners get involved with social media is to find new customers. The post then gives four tips that can help small businesses do just that.

Were any of these articles helpful to you and your business? Leave your thoughts in the comment section or email dford@jckonline.com.

JCK