I just returned from China and have been adjusting to life back in the U.S. According to veteran travelers, it takes one day per time zone to catch up with jet lag. That translates into 13 days of “re-entry” -- and it’s been pretty much the case with me.

China is amazing. The contrast between ancient and high-tech is startling, especially in major cities like Shanghai and Beijing where massive video screens and huge high-def electronic billboards tower over tiny shops and winding alleys. In this nation of 1.2 billion residents, one in every two – more than 700,000 million people – have cell phones. I even saw farmers in some of the more remote regions talking away on their phones as they plowed their fields with their water buffalo. And we think that we’re dependent on mobile technology!

All this has made me think about our own fixation with keeping in touch. Although most of us aren’t Tweeting on the tundra, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re using social media. As a small business person, you can’t afford to look clueless anywhere on the Internet, but this is especially true on Twitter. Read on if you want to avoid this fate.

It’s hard to go a full day without hearing the word “Facebook” come up in a conversation. Once thought to merely be a passing fad, Facebook has become the biggest outlet of the social media world.

Facebook has evolved since its birth, however. It’s not just a way for college kids to publish questionable photos on the web. Facebook has become one of the most effective business tools to get your message across online. Forget about those quizzes that can determine, if you were a “Mixed Drink,” what kind you’d be. Your Facebook page is a great way for you to interact directly with your publics. Your customers can feel like their voice is being heard, and you can address their concerns efficiently.

You might be wondering “Why do I need to bother with a Facebook page if I’m just a small business.” Well, a page may better for business than you think. Here are some some reasons why: