HONOLULU -- Whether you're Tweeting about your latest product or blogging on the benefits of buying into your services, those in the know say utilizing social media is a powerful strategy that will get you links, attention and massive amounts of traffic.

"It's like college was 20 years ago. You had to have a degree to be successful. You have to have an Internet site to be successful. But that's more like a high school diploma. Now your college degree in business is social media," said Kelly Mitchell, of The Kelly Mitchell Group, a technology consulting company.

Some of the best minds in social media are here for a two day conference on creating a business strategy using social media tools.

Nationally recognized Washington-based blogger, Geoff Livingston, said what's happening now with Facebook and Twitter isn't any different than the old chat rooms.

"It's the exact same thing," said Livingston. "It's just people getting together and talking online."

It's especially important here, because of Hawaii's geographically challenging position. While it may be hard to attract good talent, a successful business can still be created through the Internet.

"You now have this opportunity to find these people, allow them to work in their living room and still have them working for Hawaii-based companies, Hawaii-based organizations and feeding the local economy," said Aaron Brazell, blogger and IT consultant.

If used creatively, the experts said social media can also be an indirect marketing tool for Hawaii's top industry.

"Tourism can be all the different things that are attractions here. All the local business, the activities, all these differently privately-owned companies, can really leverage that in some way to attract people to come," said Brazell.