The Power of Social Media

Social media is changing the face of marketing. The carefully crafted messages of yesterday are no more appealing and welcoming. Social Media enabled the open dialogue between companies and consumers. As more of the marketplace embraces communication through blogs, online forums, and social networks, more consumers are giving unfettered feedback about companies and their products every day.

Companies that don’t participate in these conversations are neglecting the reputation of their brand and encouraging their competitors to come in and build more meaningful relationships with their customers.

Before engaging in social media, companies need to explore the various options available and decide which methods will likely have the greatest impact on their target audience. No matter which avenue they choose - a blog, a pod-cast, a store in a virtual world, or whatever else - marketers need to think ahead and be sure they’re devoting the appropriate resources to ensure that their content is relevant, engaging, and frequently refreshed. That’s how to fulfill every marketer’s dream – by keeping consumers coming back for more.

Companies that aren’t willing to put the personnel and time behind the effort should also refrain from leveraging social media. “It takes time to grow a social network and you need to give people a reason to belong — information, access to products, access to behind-the-scenes industry or company gossip