There is still resistance in the marketing world to fully utilizing social media. What will it take to convince businesses of just how pervasive it is? As American’s economy continues to struggle, the plan to keep customers coming back is crucial. Developing a social media marketing plan, as discussed in “How Important is Social Media in a Marketing Plan?,” can be challenging, but ultimately necessary to capture the “paradigm shift” from a traditional, mechanical marketing structure to a “new and evolving organic model.” A similar article, “Why Many Small Businesses are Still Struggling,” highlights this model with some key points: consumer exposure through social networks, “soft sells” through indirect messaging, and relationship-building, conversation-starting communities about the products and services your company offers. This open engagement can’t be stressed enough, and must be executed through social avenues like Twitter and Facebook. Do some research to see the power of Web 2.0 marketing and how social media can benefit your business.

Wrap-up: Still don’t believe social media is important? Watch this YouTube video.

Sam Hartman, Feb. 23, 2010

Note: Post not sponsored.