Navigating the world of social media is overwhelming in and of itself.

But looking at it for what it is really helps. Social media is simply the development of a community. Taking the right measures to maximize results in each channel is key to all of our businesses.

You may have seen this all before, but it bears repeating—and remembering.

Produce multiuse content. Authentic content gains attention and gains trust, but be sure to write it with the intent of repurposing it throughout all of your channels: websites, blog posts, Facebook, twitter, et cetera.

Make it count. You get out of social media what you put into it, so be sure you have the time to make each channel successful. Once you know how much time you have to dedicate to it, you can determine where to put your efforts.

Reach is what counts. Don't get too caught up in the number of fans you have: Look at the total reach of your fan base through your analytics. Quite often, quality is more important than quantity.

Integrate your messaging. Don't put all of your eggs into one basket. Many suppliers put time into video or social posting on Facebook, but fail to integrate everything. Use all channels as a means of expanding your social reach.

Brand consistency. Be sure that every social channel you use has the same look and feel, and is consistent with your brand. Too often, suppliers throw out a social channel and don't take the time to cultivate the visual component, which is equally important from a branding perspective.

Interact with your content. Think of this like having a conversation in person: You wouldn't just throw a comment out and walk away from someone. Social media works the same way. Try discussing topics through your social channel.

Listen. It's easy to get in the habit of scheduling posts and not interacting. Be sure you are listening to your community eighty percent of the time and posting twenty percent of the time. You'll learn your community's needs and wants of and can accommodate accordingly.

Tips to maximize the world of social networking are endless. I hope these tips offer a friendly reminder to get on your path to positive interaction and provide insight to your social media communities.

Written by Kasie Smith, president and publisher of Serendipity Media, LLC.