Watch this video.

Now, watch it again.

The statistics they show are nothing short of staggering. You can argue which social media platforms are the most robust. You can speculate whether Facebook and its 500 million plus subscribers will eventually be replaced by something better.

What you can’t argue with is the fact that social media – in all its forms – is an ingrained part of our lives.

Whether you dabble or immerse, text or tweet, post or watch – social media has changed the way we communicate and interact.

And it will only continue to grow, evolve and infiltrate itself into every corner of our worlds.

If you run a nonprofit or own a small business the question is not – should I have a presence? The question is – what are you waiting for?

The most compelling slide from that video is ‘word of mouth’. It is axiomatic that word of mouth marketing – the old school version of viral marketing – is the most powerful way to spread your message. Friends trust friends and in this new world of communication people trust real people. Marketing messages have always been treated with a modicum of cynicism. Now, those messages are parsed through the web and rendered believable by the crowd.

Once, you would depend on a friend’s review of a restaurant or new movie. Now, you can go to Yelp or Rotten Tomatoes and read the opinions of total strangers.

And find them more credible than corporate advertising campaigns.

Previously, your praise or criticism of a brand or service was limited to your inner circle. Now, you can blog the world.

And everyone is listening.

Social media’s growth has transcended exponential. It has connected us in ways we never imagined. It has become such an integral part of our communication DNA that we have mutated into a new species.

Most importantly – it has given us power. We all have a voice that can be heard with minimal effort. There is no turning back.

Viva the revolution!

Your thoughts?

Steve Allan

Social Media Specialist

SMthree