The recommendation age?

It’s been said that we’re deep into the “information” age. Instant information, the expectation of instant gratification and constant, non-stop communication are overloading us all. There’s just too much information. But social media is changing that.

We’re moving away from infinite information to a period called the “recommendation” age.

Your customers and clients are now looking to trusted resources, whether associates, coworkers or even websites, for a recommendation when buying what they want.

No matter how you look at it, you don’t have a choice on whether or not “to do” social media.

The issue is how well you do it.

So how do you thrive in the recommendation age?
It’s hard to ignore the presence and power of social marketing for business. And you don’t have to look far to see reports of sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter registering usage of billions of minutes per day. Since the traditional expectation of providing good service and hoping the referrals will come is no longer the case, you’ve got to get better at social media.

Here’s how to win:

• Devise a social media strategy for your website content. Social media is an easy to use, intuitive way to build trust and create potential referrals.
• Get much more active on social networking website such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to build contacts, answer questions and exchange information.
• Don’t avoid it because you think it’s just another online fad. Social media and social marketing are here to stay. Just ask Facebook’s 1-billion+ members.

When you’re active on social media, you’re part of the conversation, rather than the topic! Your digital presence also creates an environment for ratings and reviews, which turn into referrals. What’s more, you’ll get results that are easily tracked, reduced advertising expenses (even in this economy), and a constant reminder of the value you bring to your customers and clients.

One final thought: everyone knows why you’re on social networks, so don’t be too obvious or overly promotional with your sales pitches. Help and contribute rather than pitch or sell.