What if you could speak directly to your target audience and get them to repeat your messages to everyone in their community? You've probably heard that you already can with Social and Digital Media.
Think that there isn't time to engage these type of fads? In actuality, you don't have time not to do it and your competition already is.
What is referred to as "Social Media" is now the #1 activity on the web, spreading information faster than any news organization.
The good news on that front is that it's not too late to get started.
Social and digital media are still in their infant stages and getting started now means being able to evolve with it, as a business owner, community member and even as a consumer.
The more you engage with real people who have similar interests to your own, the easier it becomes to spread the messages of what your business is all about.
With enough practice, you no longer have to "sell" anything.
The term "Brand Evangelists" is being used to describe a person who communicates on behalf of your business to their online community about why they love its products or services.
The best part is that every time a new product or service is released, you are able to let those who will most appreciate it know first.
Services like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Yelp, Buzz, Digg, WordPress and others are usually completely free to use and give the average business owner a chance to make connections with their audience on an individual, yet broad reaching basis.
You may wonder what's in it for them, which is a valid concern.
For many of your clients or customers, just showing appreciation is what they are out for.
Others may be looking for recognition for being a loyal supporter or potentially a discount.
Those looking for discounts and prizes are actually unofficial advertising employees.
Instead of throwing out messages to a mass audience that may or may not care about what products a business provides (traditional advertising), using social and digital media is much like creating powerful little hubs of information spreading.
Those "hubs" are real people and they dig what you are all about.
In return, your business can find ways to reward them.
There's really no formula to it, except to give your "Brand Evangelists" something worth their time and worth wagering a little bit of their own reputation.
It's difficult for anyone to fully grasp what social and digital media is about until they have participated in it.
Many are scared away by privacy concerns and not fully grasping the technology or features.
There are many pitfalls of putting messages out in to cyberspace, where they can be stored and spread around.
That's why it's best to have a strategy going in to it.
Would you know who in your office or organization you could trust with that type of responsibility? This is something to give serious thought to.
Countless gaffes on Twitter have embarrassed business owners, politicians, professional athletes and other famous people.
It can just as easily happen to a smaller fish in the pond too, which is why the strategy is so important.
Getting started really is the hardest part.
Online communities are just like any other place that people congregate to share ideas.
Being the new kid on the block is never easy.
For those who've had no exposure at all to social or digital media, try reading up on it before just jumping in.
Experts in these fields are popping up everywhere, so a simple Google search is a good start.
Mashable.
com is considered to be at the forefront of these newly created experts, but there are many others.
Even the online world can be cruel, so make sure to get off on the right foot!