During the next few days we would like to help fellow business owners understand the implications of the communications revolution which is underway.

What started as an underground movement some years ago has rapidly evolved to the point where a massive groundswell is sweeping the plant. “What on earth are you talking about?” you ask. We are talking about the modern web and in particular Social Media (which is really just a fancy name for how people – millions of them – are using the internet to communicate.)

Here are some reasons you should care (Source Marta Kagan):

• Because 2/3’s of the global internet population are using this as a communication medium
• Because visiting a social networking site is now the 4th most popular activity online –
  yes ahead of email.
• Because time spent on social networks is growing 3x the overall internet rate and accounts for 10% of all time spend on the internet
• Because social media is democratizing communication. Big time
• Because social media is word of mouth on steroids
• Because 93% of social media users expect businesses to communicate with them on the social networks.

Gone are the days when you could say “Facebook is for teenagers!”

Gone are the days when you could think this about your clients “I want to talk to you, but I don’t want to hear back from you. Unless you want to place an order, and if so click here.”

“For companies [small businesses included] resistance to social media is futile. Millions are creating content for the social web. Your competitors are already there. Your customers have been there for a long time. If your business is not putting itself out there, it ought to be” – BusinessWeek February 09.

So hopefully this made you sit up and say “Best I take a look at what the fuss is all about” and then “What do I need to do in order not to be left behind” We couldn’t sum it up better than Graham Wallington CEO of WildEarth:

“First you need to know how to use the tools, then you need to know how those tools can be used in your business … then you need to change your business to ‘accommodate’ not just the tools, but the underlying thinking behind social media.