So now that we're hearing social media is the new search marketing, here's a bunch of tools to help you optimize both.

Most of the current influencers joined the network back in 2007. Unlike the world of search, few established brands make the heady higher echelons of Twitter influence.

Four out of the top five corporations on the list post regularly to their Twitter accounts. As with blogs, the top 100 companies have the greatest share of social media presence.

Social media usage has increased from 12% to 24% for 2009. Surprisingly, Facebook is the most-used tactic.

Hitwise analyze ISP data to build their analysis on overall site traffic and what's happening on the net. These are great analyst blogs that extract the juicy tidbits from our browsing behavior.

Social media statistics from the people that supply the 'AddThis' links to a bunch of blogs.

Some great little interfaces to make Twitter more readable, including Twitter Times...

Conversations are here to stay, and Twitter will probably be a part of it. From the Gravity Summit in San Diego.

Tying up blogs and Twitter from the Problogger guru.

If you are looking to engage a social media agency, make sure their strategy is broad (not tools-based) and covers tactics that are measurable.

An online directory of Twitter users

A 'balanced' post on the subject of ghost blogging. If you do get into this controversial area, here are some useful tips.

How not engaging in social media can cost you business. Can you afford not to do this?

How to make the most of Twitter

You can use Twitter's search capabilities to hone in on profiles and even locations!

Popular lifestream widgets.

A handy little tool from the Twitter team to help you monitor your presence on the popular micro-blogging site.

A laundry-list of tactics and tools you can use to engage with your audience out there.

Just in case you aren't familiar with Home Bases, Outposts and Passports.

The Huffington Post throw up a few dictums to help you not get slapped down in the world of social media.

The Art Biz Blog offers categories of Twitter communications. Something we all need to bear in mind is that variety is the spice of life and don't just get hung up on pushing out your own message...

Mashable earlier this year reported on how users are interacting with the popular service.

Real statistics on the value from social media campaigns including the number of sales and lead generated. Gold dust.

Just in case you've been up all night wondering which URL shortening service to use.

Many uses for this service, but especially good for finding those with similar interests.

Discussion on who you should follow and for what reasons.

What it says on the box: a list of some of the top Twitter analytics applications out there. Room for consolidation in this market?

Make sure you get as much traffic to your Tweets as possible by search engine optimizing your feeds.

If you use Wordpress, you can use this widget to display your latest Tweets on the page. No Javascript and translates the text to links (say to @users) as needed.