Social Media Can Change Your Business, Organization, Campaign or Life

This past week I read two articles about how social media can make a huge difference for things such as your business or career, or even your life - since the use of social media is having a big impact on the US elections, and many businesses worldwide.  For reference, here are the two articles:

1. An updated Business Week article about how Social Media Will Change Your Business.  There are some great stats in here about the number of blogs and stories about the real world applications of blogging and social media.   
2. A Boston Globe article about Technology Aids Obama's Outreach Drive.  This is a fascinating story about how Obama really has used social media quite effectively to embrace and manage a groundswell of support.

Why Social Media and Blogs Can Help Your Business

1. Start Fast.  You could launch a page on Facebook today and get a blog going in a couple days.  So what are you waiting for?
2. Low Cost.  You can get started in social media and blogging for very little or no money.  They are among the most cost-effective methods of reaching your audience. 
3. Instant Interactivity.  Both blogs and social media can give you nearly instant market feedback - good or bad.  We get all kinds of feedback through the comments on this blog, and people also leave reviews and other comments for us on Facebook and other social media venues.
4. It's the Search Engines, stupid.  Surveys indicate that 90% or more of people begin their purchasing process in search engines.  Blogs and social media make it more likely that your prospects will find you online in search engines.
5. Inbound Marketing.  If you read this blog, you know that we're all big fans of inbound marketing at HubSpot.  Outbound marketing is telemarketing, direct mail, email blasts, TV and print ads - all the things that buyers tend to block out more and more using caller ID, TiVo, and spam blockers.  Social media and blogs are essential inbound marketing tools.
6. Desired content, not distracting ads.  Related to the last point about inbound marketing is the idea that the content you produce using a blog or social media is likely to be something that your prospect actually desires to consume, rather than ads they find distracting and that interrupt them.
7. First mover advantage.  For blogs and social media, there is an advantage to moving first.  If you don't jump into the conversation, your competitors, competitor's customers or your customers will (if they have not already) and then it can be an uphill battle to become influential in these online conversations.  Start now, and claim the virtual conversation-ground for your biggest advantage.

Webinars on Social Media and Blogging for Business

1. Free Webinar: Blog Marketing - Blogs are no longer just online personal journals - they are now key business tools.  Blogs allow you to engage in a conversation with your customers while improving your website's search engine rank.  Don't know where to start?  Attend this free webinar to learn key tactics for business blogging and engaging in the blogosphere to grow your business.
2. Free Webinar: Social Media for Business - Learn how to harness the power of the social mediasphere - facebook, digg, del.icio.us, reddit, and many others - to get found by more potential customers, develop meaningful relationships with others in your industry, and position yourself as an expert in your field.

What is your company's social media strategy?  Do you use blogs?  Do you have a Facebook Business Page?  Do you use Digg, Reddit, LinkedIn, Mixx, Technorati, or other social media?  Share your best practices in the comments below.