Social media seems to be everywhere these days.  More than likely you are using it to stay connected with friends and family, post pictures of your vacation and organize your class reunion.  So why does your firm need to be a part of social media, and how could it possibly benefit your firms bottom line?

To start, I feel it is important to define social media.  Social media is “software tools that allow groups to create content and engage in peer-to-peer conversations and the exchange of content.”  Examples are YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

In today’s social media world, the flow of communication is changing.  Information no longer flows from the few to the many.  Sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and a very large network of bloggers have changed the dynamic, allowing information to flow from the many to the many more.  A more relevant example might be that no longer does information about your firm flow from your website to your clients, but clients are talking about you through channels you cannot control.

Your clients are out there talking about your firm and the work you do.  They are defining your brand in ways never thought of in times past.  So what is your firm to do?  The answer is to join the conversation, and then listen at the point of need.  When done correctly, not only can you control the message, but you can benefit from it.

Check out the full article to find out how to define your company’s social media strategy!