Can you name a social media application other than Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook? If you can't, you're missing some great online opportunities to engage customers and build your business.

Social media offers easy access to prospective customers in specific target markets. But "social networking" is a broad term - it's used to describe online communication between users that share similar interests, but it extends far beyond Twitter accounts and LinkedIn profiles.

Consider using a variety of social media channels to connect with customers, develop networks, generate leads and position your organization as an industry leader:

• Find Out What They REALLY Think

Message boards and comments pages, both within your corporate website and those maintained by third parties, are a goldmine of customer opinions that can transform your business. Regular monitoring can gather vital information related to products and services, overall company perception, and suggestions for improvement. You also have the ability to see what's on the minds of your competitor's customers!

Consider a range of innovative ways to communicate with customers.

• Connect Online - In Real Time

Webinars - online meetings or presentations with visual and audio components - help you interact with customers and deliver value-added information related to your products and services. Avoid producing a sales-pitch "commercial"; stick to advice, tips or research that solidifies your business' position as a leader in the field. Invite current customers and prospects to join a live presentation and then add the materials to your website for future reference.

• Increase Your Network

Publishing value-added information online, beyond your corporate website, increases online presence and attracts new business. YouTube is a great outlet for corporate videos and presentations, while blogs, online trade publications and article-sharing applications such as Digg it! and Stumble Upon are a good choice for reports, white papers and case studies. These applications target potential customers with common interests and make it easy for them to pass content on to their colleagues and connections. Keep materials informative and well branded with links to your corporate website where potential customer data can be captured.

• Be The Go-to Source

Join the social networking community by having employees contribute to third-party message boards and forums directly related to both your business and their areas of expertise. Many sites offer the opportunity for users to ask questions and get feedback about products, problems and industry issues - position your business at the forefront by showcasing expertise in solving key customer challenges!

Explore the range of social networking opportunities available to build new customer relationships, increase market intelligence and enhance current customer relationships. For advice on how your business can capitalize on social media marketing to build competitiveness, contact 5th business today!

Making Twitter Work for You

5th business Wins International Astrid Award

Social media is the newest tool in your marketing arsenal - but do you know how to maximize your time and gain the most benefit from participating?

About 90% of online users (about 19 million Canadians) across the demographic spectrum engage with social networking sites on a monthly basis. Twitter, for example, is the fastest growing of the social media applications, and is gaining ground among business and professional individual users. No other marketing tool offers the combination of cost-effective implementation, highly track-able results and direct customer access.

May 11, 2010 - Mississauga, Canada - 5th business, one of Canada's leading marketing and communications companies, won a Gold Astrid Award for the latest edition of Perspective 5.  The award-winning report, entitled Marketing Sustainability: The Green Effect, discusses opportunities available to companies that choose to conduct their business with green principles and market in a more sustainable manner.

The 20th International Astrid Awards recognize exceptional design creativity and quality work achievement in a variety of marketing and communications categories. Winners are selected by an international panel of judges who rate overall creativity, clarity and production quality. With its Gold achievement, 5th business joins past winners including such companies as Samsung, Burger King, and Deutsche Telekom.