Let's agree with the fact that, now, people go online to get information and to make buying decisions more than they go to the local newspaper or yellow page books. That's a fact.

Successful businesses who want to grow will keep up to date with marketing methods that will work for their industry. Social Media is the NEW way to advertise or market a business, and it will work with any market because so many people now have access to the internet. Let's agree with the fact that, now, people go online to get information and to make buying decisions more than they go to the local newspaper or yellow page books. That's a fact.

The other part of the story is that we are living in the age of information, where we are able to access more information than ever before, and connect with people at almost every level of a business than ever was possible in the past. People want to ask questions, have discussions, get feedback from trusted friends, and they are doing this on the internet. CEO's of major companies are present in social channels online, and talking with customers, prospects, or whoever is asking them questions.

The next consideration is that even if you are not participating, your customers and prospects are. They're already online, talking about the kinds of products or services that you represent, maybe they are talking about you, and probably they are talking about your competition. Chances are that your competition is there as well. And every day that you aren't, you are losing potential business.

What are people doing online when they are researching products and services they are interested?

Watching video clips

Reading articles on blogs, websites, and news sites

Visiting business social pages

Viewing images

Listening to podcasts

Talking in forums

Being active in communities

Businesses in every market are using all of the above to connect with people, engage in conversation with them, attracting new and loyal customers from this transparent new way to market. On the internet, it is imperative to be genuine and reputable because if you are not, someone is going to tell the world about it.

When you start using Social Media for your business, the most important advice you can take is to CARE about your message and CARE about the people who will see and respond to it. That will lead to a very important WHY: you will build a group of customers who will not only be satisfied with the service or product you provide them, but will become ADVOCATES for you by spreading the word through this very viral community of the internet.

It may seem overwhelming until we get to the HOW do you actually 'do' Social Media. That's coming in a future post (or available by clicking on the www (world wide web) picture on the top right of this page) - for now it is important that you understand the WHAT, WHY, and PAYOFF associated with social media marketing.