In This "New Age" of Business, Social Media is King

ATLANTA, GA, December 20, 2012 (Press-News.org) Gone are the days of the mom-and-pop store where advertising was not necessary because it was the only shop in town. Today's entrepreneurs must compete in a virtually global marketplace, and the best way to remain competitive is through online social networking.

"This is an entirely new playing field," says Dr. R. Kay Green, CEO of RKG Marketing Solutions and author of the new book "I've Been Called the B* Word... Now What Do I Do?" "An entrepreneur who wants to succeed in this new age of business must have an active online presence through which she can build and promote her brand. Ignoring this crucial aspect of modern selling can be detrimental, to say the least."

According to Infographiclabs.com, Facebook currently boasts 845 million active users every month; Twitter's user accounts number over 465 million; and LinkedIn has more than 135 million users in 200 countries.

"Your online presence is your brand manifested on hundreds of millions of computer screens," notes Dr. Green, "and every friend or follower is a potential lead--for a sale, for a business contact, or simply for a chance to get ahead. You don't turn down potential leads in the real world. Why would you turn them down in the social networking sphere?"
Through social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, an entrepreneur or company can:

* Gain customer insight. These sites give valuable insight into unfiltered customer opinions and can keep you informed about current and evolving trends.

* Innovate. Companies can get real-time feedback on new products or ask for input on how to better their offerings directly from the people who use their products.

* Market. The urgency and immediate nature of social media make it perfect for limited-time or last-minute offers that can drive traffic to a company's online presence or other more traditional sales outlets.

"It doesn't matter if your company is cutting-edge or button-down," says Dr. Green. "Social networking holds opportunities for every business. It's the best way to remain informed about current and evolving trends, and it's a wonderful--and essentially free--way to stay connected to your target consumers."

About the author:
Dr. R. Kay Green is the CEO and president of RKG Marketing Solutions, Inc. and an online professor and course developer for West Virginia University, Embry-Riddle University, University of California--Irvine, Arcadia University, and the Florida Institute of Technology. She holds an associate's degree in marketing management, a bachelor's in administration in marketing, an MBA in marketing and management, and a doctorate of business administration in marketing, and has been featured on Great Women Speakers, Black Experts, and Guru.com.

Website: http://www.rkgmarketingsolutions.com