by Michelle Greysen

Created on: May 07, 2009   Last Updated: May 15, 2009

What is social media in business terms?

Before the more recent days of exploding web access and multi-levels of techno-connectivity both business big and small called it business networking. It has grown into the term Social Media and business is on-board in a big way.

The need for business to align with a select group of associates and acquaintances with mutual goals of common success and shameless self-promotion is not news, but rather good business practice. Today's draw to the world wide web and how a business aligns itself and its players on a global transparent playing field is what the social media business buzz is all about.

Social media, the likes of FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter and countless more are not just for teens and singles looking for a cyber-hangout. If you doubt that statement then pull up Google and go searching and you will quickly see that every big business is solidly present in the social networking world. Not only visible but cleverly using these sites as savvy marketing tools in many professionally appealing ways to attract their target consumer. The need to draw in customers and the advantage of global technology at everyone's fingertips has changed how and where business finds their end-user.

Having a company website is now a given in today's global economy. Enhancing that site with social media ties such as a Twitter tweet, an informative professionally developed blog, a FaceBook and MySpace presence, and their key players on staff all LinkedIn, is not about being hip or cool, but about having a global advantage and a target marketing and networking tool.

Many companies are now using this quick wave of information moving as an active staff communication tool. Traditional networking involved regular communication for mutual benefit always connecting who does what with who can benefit. The web has brought that about in a quicker broader arena with common interests connecting via the social media tools online, bringing businesses and customers into one common arena with great access and success.

The positive results are proof enough for those businesses not afraid to jump in and use these readily available and basically free opportunities to promote themselves in a non-traditional but fast becoming the norm environment. This is not a trend or a fad, but rather a new venue to reach clients on a level playground whether a single person office or a major corporation.

The news this past week that even President Obama and the White House has not only joined FaceBook, but has also sent out the first official Tweet on Twitter is proof that reaching a large audience in only a 140 character message is a valuable way of reaching the public no matter what your business. Social Media sites and business networking on the web have become one in the same and progressively marketed innovative companies are leading the way.

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