This is a really good analysis of what companies are spending or could expect to spend on social media marketing in 2011. From a standpoint of selling these services, I find it both a blessing and a curse. While these figures are likely in range for companies in many markets, there are also some markets that these figures will never fly. Many companies will see the comma and be scared and that’s okay if your budget isn’t *that* friendly.

I advise companies to work with a marketing expert to determine the goals of SocMed and then determine a budget. While success should be the first question, in this economy it usually is the second behind price. I warn companies looking at investing in professional communications services to not base your decision on price alone. Anybody can build a blog and post to Facebook, but remember that its not the capability to post, its the ability to convert your efforts into sales. Anyone can sit down at a piano and peck out a tune, but only a trained artist can use the same tool to create an emotionally driven piece of music.

From MackCollier.com