Our 100 sales and marketing tips list this year is brokendown into 10 important categories. This first list focuses onsocial media.

1. First things first: Get in the game if you aren'talready.

2. Implement a strategy: Know who you're trying to reach, whattopics you want to talk about and the message you're trying tosend.

3. Educate customers on insurance and allow them to sharefeedback. —Rick Morgan, Rick Morgan Consulting; Broomfield,Colorado

4. Think of social media as a relationship builder.

5. Don't hog the conversation. Use social media as a way to talkwith and listen to others.

6. Post at least weekly, if not more.

7. Become active on multiple platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Google+ are all good options.

8. Use the platforms to inform clients of who you are and whatyou offer as a broker or agent.

9. Make your social media activity part of your everydayroutine, like checking email and calling clients.

10. Vary your posts. Sharing a mix of text, photos, links andvideos will keep your followers engaged. —Deborah Sternberg,executive vice president of Always Care Benefits in Baton Rouge,Louisiana