If social media is a foreign language, your company could be missing out on free a dvertising, networking and marketing opportunities... as well as gaining valuable contacts.

Everyone who is anyone is tweeting and messaging like it’s going out of fashion, celebrities tell the world everything they do including what they have for breakfast with legions of followers digesting every word.  But is it just a fad or is there a serious side of building your business whilst having fun?

Facebook members make it the size of the 4th largest country in the world... the brainwave of Harvard college students in February 2004 now has over 400 million members.  Over 50% log on every day sharing photographs, status updates, events and general chit chat with their average 130 contacts in more than 70 languages... around 5 billion links, stories, blogs, notes, photographs etc are posted every week from computers and mobile phones... 3.5 million events shared, promoted and viewed every month...  With stats like that should we be joining the party?

Many party people are already caring and sharing online; chatting with clients, friends and other industry insiders.  Last month The Balloon Association NABAS created a page at http://www.facebook.com/balloonassociation and already has 56 fans signed up.

Fan pages do increase brand awareness and a search for “balloons” yields over 1900 pages of twisters, decorators, teachers, wholesalers, shops, manufacturers and clowns from all over the world.   “Party Shop” yields 116 hits.. so if you are not joining in you could be missing a trick... especially when your only investment is time... both in adding content and converting enquiries.  You can also gain targeted exposure by using paid adverts.

Twitter is often heralded as the domain of celebrities with @StephenFry (and his alter ego @MrsStephenFry) garnering huge media attention whilst entertaining over 1.3 million followers.  But many small and medium sized businesses are using it to locate, meet and nurture contacts as well as let their hair down online.  It is cost effective for targetting groups of people trusting what you say and if used correctly could lead to business or useful contacts.  But beware followers can just as easily unfollow so say something annoying, derogatory or continuously try to sell and you could find yourself very lonely.

By the end of December 2009 (3 years 9 months after it started) users exploded to an estimated 75 million.  15 million people regularly post micro messages of up to 140 characters many with links to blogs, pictures and websites.  Applications to use twitter have emerged for mobile phones allowing people to tweet on the move or manage multiple accounts.  They also allow tracking so you can see just what inspired people to click.

Mixing online media is easy with many sites allowing status updates posted on one to be seen on others all over the web.

Some sites rank highly in search engines and carefully worded advertorials or blogs can ensure your business is seen in searches without paying a penny.

Networking company 4Networking has over 26,000 online members helping each other, swapping business and providing a general support network and is the fastest growing UK community.  Backed by over 200 linked breakfast groups members get to know and like each other online then endorse it by meeting at networking events or social outings.  Members often say their profiles and articles regularly appear high in search engines gaining them business and exposure.  The online presence is free as is the shared help.  These people sure know how to party... 14,000 hits on their 2009 party thread in a few weeks is going some..

Sites like this are spreading and are often self-regulating, rogue members are soon spotted and given short shrift whereas those who follow a more giving philosophy often find they receive far more in return.

Forums also provide platforms for promoting professionalism by posting articles or sharing experiences that may be seen by potential clients.  But beware of not knowing what you are talking about or upsetting others.. you will be outed in public.

So is social media a serious business tool or is blogging the domain of egomaniacs?  There’s only way to find out.. suck it and see.. see you online?

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