As Internet professionals like Trent Jordan have been telling their colleagues and clients for years, social media is the marketing tool of the future. This online marketing and PR professional has helped countless businesses get the word out about their brand and has helped to protect their reputation using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and others. Now that Forrester Research has reported that an estimated 70 percent of retailers have Facebook accounts, and more than 50 percent of retailers use Twitter to promote their business, it’s clear that this is no passing fad. Social media marketing seems to be having a lasting impact on the marketplace.
In the same Forrester Research report, the firm revealed that social media marketing is expected to grow by 34 percent each year over the next five years. This would make it a $3.1 billion industry by 2014. Consultants like Trent Jordan are necessary to help businesses navigate the turbulent waters of social media, though, since it is such as tricky environment for marketing. Some businesses have had great success with social media marketing, and others have failed to see much impact from their efforts. The most successful businesses have had some help along the way.
Even social media proponents like Trent Jordan admit that social media still only makes up a fraction of the overall advertising revenues in businesses across the globe, but with such a rapid growth it is sure to take a bigger chunk in the future. Using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter can provide the opportunity to let customers know about special offers, new services, sales, menu items and the introduction of new products. These sites also provide an opportunity to see what people are saying about your business or brand. Libby Issendorf of the Flint Group, for example, advises businesses to spend just a few minutes searching the popular social networking sites to see if there are mentions of your company’s name. This can give you information about what people like and don’t like as well as allow you to deal with upset customers or former employees who may be trashing your reputation online.
Social media is a puzzle that is difficult to put together, which is why professionals like Trent Jordan and others are helping businesses use it to their best advantage to reach their unique goals.

















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