1) Social media can be used effectively in business by exploring different aspects like social networking, identifying target audiences and their motivations, and developing a customized strategy and plan of action. 2) When executing the social media plan, it is important to monitor the process and quantify results to see if goals are being met and make adjustments if needed. 3) Analyzing metrics like engagement, sentiment, virality and influencers can help determine if the social media efforts are working or need changes.