I agree that social networking IS the way to go. You cannot escape it - it's here. Facebook and Twitter being the biggest ones, but also LinkedIn and other sites like that. I use TweetDeck and that allows me to update my twitter status and facebook status at the same time. That saves time. I also do not have a separate "business account" although depending on your business you might want to. I have found tangible results from using twitter. Like Patty said, it's all about being real and creating real connections. The worst thing to do is to only post about your business or yourself.
I haven't really used any particular "strategy" to gain followers. I simply post a few times a day about life in general, blog posts or videos that I've found helpful, inspirational quotes, etc. I mix it up so it's not always the same. And occasionally, I let people know what I do and how I can help them. But again, that shouldn't be your primary focus or you will lose followers very quickly. My follower base has gradually built up, and my FB friends have expanded over time. I am a bit more selective with FB in that I like to know the person at least a little bit before I "friend" them (even if it's just knowing them through online forums, etc).
Good luck!
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