If I had a dollar for every business owner or marketing professional who, in the last year, has asked me what it costs to get involved in social media, I’d be rich. Okay, maybe not rich, but I could honestly take those dollars and make a car payment.

[flickr style="float: right"]photo:2549050343[/flickr]When I tell them the cost to get involved is literally nothing other than some time, they don’t believe me. Sure, I can build you a blog, develop a social network for your customers, create widgets and gadgets and fidgets and all sorts of other words that will impress your CEO, drive buzz, create viral content and bill you plenty of dollars to do so. But to participate, as an individual or a business, is absolutely free.