All over the world, a conversation is taking place.

People are gathering at a “virtual water cooler” to discuss the things they care about, ways
they can live better and how to get the best value for their money.

This meeting place is better known as social media, a vast collection of web and mobile
technologies encouraging back-and-forth dialogue.

If you’re like a growing amount of Americans, you’ve already been there. In the United States
alone, the number of people who use Facebook—the most popular social networking outlet—is
over 146 million.

Boundless business

Virtually every business with its pulse on the technological times is flocking to sites like Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn and Foursquare.

Last year, a whopping 83 percent of Fortune 500 companies used social networks, according to a
recent article on Social Times, an online publication focused on the latest social media developments.

Sixty percent of these corporate giants—from Whole Foods to Jet Blue— promote their business and
interact with consumers via Twitter, while another 56 percent log onto Facebook.

Networking on social media sites is also the number-one marketing strategy for local businesses,
according to “The Survival Guide for Small Business.”

Because of the potentially global reach of social media networking, and its affordability, droves of
cash-strapped but ambitious entrepreneurs are Facebooking, Twittering, Yelping, Foursquaring and
getting LinkedIn.

Marketing revolution

Seek to bring something of value to your target community.

In a recent article on Mashable, social media expert Samuel Axon explains:

“The most common advice we received from businesses successfully using social media: Use it to engage your
customers in a conversation, not just sell your services. Ideally, social media helps any business become the
corner barbershop or bookstore where the owner knows each regular’s name and preferences.”

Customers are best engaged when you go beyond salesperson to become a consistent source of useful information
and lively interaction. Find your niche and build authority by sharing news, tips and ideas.

Do this and you’ll see the scope of your social media campaign grow, because pertinent information draws pertinent
comments. Be friendly by following and acknowledging the conversation you’ve begun and you’ll see your virtual
community grow.

Once you’ve established that you’re there to share, not to sell, you can, of course, squeeze a touch of sales—coupons,
specials, packages, etc.—into all that free value. The real trick, though, is to bring yourself and your business to the
forefront of people’s minds—in short, to grow your brand.

If your social media campaign is strong and you can back it up with a quality product or service, you may evenbe lucky enough
to create a brand ambassador or, even better, a community of brand ambassadors. These are engaged members of your
social network who are so impressed with your company and online profile that they are willing to recommend you to friends
and to help spread your message. Now that’s return on investment.

What are you waiting for? It’s time for you and your business to make friends with Twitter, Facebook and the myriad sites where
businesses blending consumerism with conversation.  Just turn on the computer and let your fingers do the talking. Or. . .

Helping hand

If you’re excited about the opportunities social media affords businesses like yours, but you’re short on time, you can also hire us to
create and maintain a targeted social media campaign that will put you on the virtual map.

More information on our coaching, monthly subscription packages and SEO offers is available on our services page.