It’s no secret that I’m a big advocate for social media. I think social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or blogs, can act as outlets to help spread messages, compliment traditional marketing communications and public relations efforts, communicate directly with target audiences, or even serve as a quick way to get information to a large number of people.

Recently, however, through watching the news and reading up on the current events and happenings in Egypt, I realized that social media can be and definitely is much bigger. Social media can play a role in organizing protests, uniting groups of people toward a common goal, or even organizing a revolution. More than that however, social media is giving the rest of the world a 24/7, real-time report of the exact, to-the-minute happenings in Egypt.

Not long ago social media was barely making its way into discussions involving communications and public relations. Now, it’s making headlines for sparking change.

In fact, when Wael Ghonim, a 30-year-old Google executive, was asked about what’s next for Egypt, he replied by saying, “Ask Facebook.” That’s a pretty strong message, and one that indicates social media sites are delivering content faster than traditional news mediums.

So, what does this mean for the love fest between marketing communications, public relations and social media?

I think that social media will continue to play an increasingly important role in communications—particularly marketing communications—and public relations. It’s important that companies utilize social media outlets and incorporate social media strategies into overall marketing plans, when appropriate. Because, whether you like it or not, social media is here to stay,  it’s growing every day and people are continually turning to social media sites to get their daily news and information.

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It’s time to start thinking about your new year’s resolution (cliché, I know), that promise to yourself that you’re going to change something in your life for the better. If you’re having a hard time deciding on what your resolution is going to be, I’m here to help. I have two great articles to share with you on why you should consider resolving to be more social in 2011, not only personally but professionally.

1. One of my favorite business-leaders, Harvey Mackay, recently wrote about the Perils of Being Anti-Social, presenting some amazing statistics and analysis of Erik Qualman’s book Socialnomics. Hearing that Facebook holds the third largest population behind China and India alone should make you want to become more social, especially for your business.
2. If that wasn’t reason enough, consider these 11 B2B Marketing Predictions for 2011, 8 of which are “social” communications, including mobile tactics. Advocate marketing especially peaks my interest because in B2B, advocates are so much more than brand-builders, they’re profit-drivers. And how do you find advocates? You listen to your customers and socialize with them.

Mackay writes that if you want to have the world at your fingertips, brush up on your “social” skills. In other words, if you want more market share at your fingertips, brush up on your social skills to strengthen your B2B strategy.

And maybe you’re already a B2B social butterfly. Maybe I’m preaching to the choir. If not, make 2011 the year you become social. Or the world will continue to shift, and you won’t reap the ‘real-time’ benefits!

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