Don’t think social media matters? Just as the Palin family

With all the broo-ha-ha going on right now with McCain’s VP pick and her ‘family’ situation, you may think this has nothing to do with small business.

But it does.

This ‘leaked” due to social media. Bloggers were speculating that Bristol Palin, the17-year old daughter of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, with the real mother of Sarah’s infant son. But in order to quell the rumors, the Plain camp issued a statement denying the rumor, and announcing that Bristol was 5 months pregnant.

(I’m discussing what a PR fiasco this is over at The Be Heard Blog.)

But there’s more. The media used social media (MySpace, in  particular) to find pictures and derogatory statements from father of Bristol’s child.

So what does this mean to you, the entrepreneur?

1) The social media is becoming a powerful news source on it’s own. And you need to be more than aware of it. You need to monitor it and what it means to you and your brand. I use Google News Alerts to get information about me and topics related to me, as well as for all my clients. That way I know pretty quickly what’s being said.

2) Be careful on what you put on your own site as you never know who’s looking. Better left things unsaid rather than let the world know you are a ” f – - -in’ redneck” and you “don’t want kids.”