Since it’s Friday (and because I like to show-and-share) I’ll leave you to watch the video and ponder the question it poses: Is social media a fad? Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?

Take the weekend to think about the following statements (they were the most powerful statements in my mind):

• Social media has taken over porn as the #1 activity on the Web – Wowza!
• It took the following mediums how many years to reach 50 million users?
• Radio = 38 years
• TV = 13 years
• Internet = 4 years
• IPod = 3 years
• Facebook = had 100 million users in less than 9 months
• And lastly, if Facebook were a country it would be the fourth largest in the world!

Now do you still think social media can’t help your business?

I hadn’t either, well, until earlier today when I attended a social media lunch and learn at Waterloo’s Accelerator Centre. Today’s speaker, Melissa Schenk from MS2 Productions, introduced us to the compass as we explored effective ways that businesses are leveraging social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to connect with customers, peers and influencers, and how some have successfully made their customers true “brand ambassadors” of their company and it’s products and services through social media and viral marketing.

Solis is recognized as a leading-thinker when it comes to new media, and his compass serves as a true physical indicator that companies should consult as they define their social media strategy. Check it out using the link above and use the Social Marketing Compass to establish a solid social media direction for your company.

But what if your customers don’t like what they see on your website? Or worse, what if they don’t trust your website?

Yesterday, Small Business Trends ran an article on the 11 Reasons Customers Don’t Trust Your Website. The reasons included:

Your website reads like a brochure: Its too technical, not engaging and not conversational.

No one likes spelling mistakes: Typos and bad grammar reflect badly on your company as a whole. Mistakes scream not credible and unprofessional.

No updates in over a decade: I’m exaggerating of course, but if your site isn’t up-to-date with your industry expectations, you’ll appear lazy or out of business.

It’s not user-friendly: Visitors will get frustrated if they can’t find what they’re looking for with ease and they’ll look for products and services somewhere else.

Cut the marketing jargon: Have you every heard of ‘business buzzword bingo’ (or what I like to call bullshit bingo)? Well you’re playing it if you’re using terms like “innovative”, “think outside the box” and “credible service organization” to describe your business.  Your product or service should speak for itself and your language should be clear and conversational (as if you were speaking about your business in person).

There’s no ‘About’ page: The easiest way to gain trust is to let your customers see the person behind the curtain. Tell them a bit about yourself (in a professional sense) and why you’re passionate about your work. This puts a face to your company and adds expertise to your business.

These are just the first 6 reasons why customers may not be positively responding to your website. Read on for the full 11 reasons why your website might not be trusted to find out if your site is guilty of these online boo-boos.

Well the Washington Post has revealed the 10 biggest social networking mistakes that businesses make—one of them being signing up and then tossing the task of social media to the lowest or most inexperienced staff, like an intern.

This is a very familiar social media mistake and I have seen it happen over and over again. In fact, I’ve worked for more than one large high-tech corporation in the past who left their social media success in the hands of paid summer interns or net unsavvy junior staffers.

Why is this a BIG mistake?

Take it from Debbie Weil, a local corporate social media consultant, who says that a proper social media strategy “requires someone who is not only communication savvy, but comfortable with exposure to the public”.  So an entry level employee with no blogging or search engine optimization exposure just don’t cut it. Social media needs a personal touch that someone with a blogging background needs to take the reigns on or at least research before diving in.

Are you guilty of leaving your social media to an intern? Well you’d better read the article.