It’s who you know!

People are turning to the Internet before making a buying decision more often today, and they are doing a lot more than just a quick Google search for a local widget manufacturer. They are looking for recommendations or complaints about you or your company. If you’re utilizing social media, such as LinkedIn or Facebook, not only can you tap into a vast network of potential clients and employees, but you can also receive reviews from your existing clients. Since these reviews are on a website that’s not owned or maintained by you, they are typically viewed as more credible than those on your own website. Keep in mind - social media is just one more tool to network with; It won’t make you rich overnight and the same things are obnoxious in real life are obnoxious online, so avoid being the person that sends all of your contacts a message every day telling them about your latest and greatest offer or they will quickly start to ignore you. Like any other aspect of marketing, take small, incremental steps and offer value, and over time you will reap the rewards of your work.