This document discusses the rise of social media and its impact on communication and business. It notes that over half of US households now have broadband access, and social media platforms like Facebook and blogs have hundreds of millions of users. It advises businesses to engage with customers on social media, listen to what people say online, and identify influencers in order to communicate more effectively and build communities. The document warns that individuals now have more power due to social media and one's online reputation is important. It ends by saying we live in exciting times where everyone can make their voice heard.

2. What is Social Media?

3. Social media is gaining steam Over half of U.S. households have broadband. 82% of active Internet users have broadband. Blogs grew from 85 mm to over 200+ mm in the last 365 days. 1 out of 8 couples married in the US last year met online. There are 200 million+ registered users of Facebook, if Facebook were a country it would be the 5th most populous, between Indonesia and Brazil.

4. Everyone is Communicating 1 out of every 5 adults will comment online 80% of all consumers read online recommendations 75% do online research before making a decision 65% of users under 35 read and find majority of their news online. 1 out of every 30 comments online is an employee discussing the company or organization they work for (Jupiter Research)

5. Welcome to Generation C Welcome to Generation C

6. 76% don’t believe organizations tell the truth in advertisements (Yankelovich 2007)

7. 68% trust other people “like themselves” up from 22% in 2003 (Edelman Trust Barometer)

8. We must find new ways to communicate and engage with our target markets.

9. Individuals have unprecedented power

10. We live in an attention economy. Lots of talking, not everyone is listening.

11. People do not want to be talked at but talked to.

12. Your Online Reputation

13. 82% of 1 st pages have blog posts

14. The Power of Social Media Case Studies

15. The Good - Name Your Dream Assignment

16. The Bad - Dunkin Donuts – Power of One Voice

17. The Ugly - Power to the People

18. Where to Start

19. Let go and gain more

20. Begin by Listening

21. Identify the influencers

22. Engage!

24. Thank you! Questions? [email_address] twitter.com/cord