There’s a saying “It’s not what you know but who you know”. An old saying yes, but one that is still very current in today’s fast paced cyber dependant world. Traditional businesses employ experts to drive their brand and open up new markets for them – experts with healthy contact books who can quickly open doors and make those all important connections. After all, the bigger the business, the more expertise is required and the greater the costs to be covered from those extra sales. All well and good in the big corporate world, but surely impossible to achieve when you are just one person? Well, maybe not!
Whatever business you are a part of, Social Media can connect you with many more people out in the expanse of cyberspace than you could ever achieve in your local bar or fitness club.
Most people still think of Social Media in terms of social networking, as in Facebook, Twitter or MSN. Consider how many people use these big networking sites and you start to see the vast potential that is out there and ready to be tapped into. Add in business networking sites such as LinkedIn, Ryze and Xing and the network grows further still.
But networking is only a small part of the social media framework, and more and more people are starting to see the bigger picture. Key ‘Social Media’ into any half decent search engine and you will see just how big that picture really is (238 million results in the case of Google). You will find social media sites for publishing, sharing, discussions, microblogs, lifestreams, livecasts, virtual worlds and social gaming to name a few. Something to suit everyone’s needs, maybe? Take YouTube as an example – YouTube is a classic example of social media, a publishing phenomenon accessible to everyone. In the USA alone in 2008 over four BILLION videos were viewed on YouTube (source ComScore).
Think about it. Do you upload your promotional video to a potential audience of millions or send a few hundred flyers to companies/people that you think might be interested in doing business with you?
Social media can do more than just promote your business. Search for a micro blog in your area of expertise or even set one up and create your own virtual team of experts that you can solve problems with, generate new business leads or brainstorm ideas with. Transform your business from being a one man/woman band into a virtual enterprise with its own sales and marketing, product development and technical support teams. Energise yourself, energise your business, create a buzz about your work and develop long lasting business relationships all from the comfort of your own home commuting only to the kitchen to refresh the coffee pot!
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**Sam Malpass** was born in Swansea and is a freelance writer working through a [PAYE Umbrella Company](http://www.crystalumbrella.com/). A former Technical Director for a UK consultancy company, Sam writes on a number of subject matters from IT to Social Commentary. Sam lives in the Midlands with his cats Rocky and Trevor.
