There was Generate X and Generate Y, and also the Age of Aquarius. Now it’s the Twitter Age, Age of Twitter and the Social Media Generate. Our generations are defined by trends that affect our culture. Social Media is not only affecting our culture the way MTV did, but it is also changing the way we communicate with each other and businesses. There is a ton of debate over this: is it worth it, cost wise, to the company? Do you need a social media expert? What is a social media expert? Does the Twitter belong to the company or the employee running the Twitter? How should the company be portrayed with Twitter? Facebook? Should the company interact? How does the interaction convey the company? Is this in brand?

Many large companies have Twitter feeds, Facebook accounts, Linkedin profiles and Flickr photostreams. Case in point: Chevron, American Red Cross, and BP. A quick check at BP’s twitter shows that it’s very active. Sara Lee answers their customers often in their Facebook posts.

Keep in mind though, many business have ventured into the Social Media Scene because it’s a buzz trend – Twitter, Facebook, etc.-. These websites have become hobbies and informational streams that everyday people interact with and it’s interaction businesses want to be part of –whether it really works for them or not.

SocialMediaToday.com seems to be one of the places to go to look up theories on social media and business. It’s all theory – just like the theory of business and marketing. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The biggest thing – and probably the best- is to work the theory that fits best with your brand.

There’s that buzz word again: Brand. Yup, even social media ventures should fit into your brand.

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