SPECIAL REPORT: The Social Networking Revolution

What started as a way for students at Harvard University to get to know each other has exploded into a worldwide virtual industry all it’s own with more than 300 million active users.

Whether you friend, post, share or Tweet - social networking sites have become a common part of everyday life. Now many businesses consider sites like Facebook and Twitter an integral part of their plans for success.

For Bill Coffman, keeping up with friends is part of doing business. He is the co-owner of Coffman’s Mens Ware, a business started by his father back in the 50’s.

It used to be when someone needed a new suit, they would stop in. This spring, Coffman started reaching out.

“It gives us a better way to keep people in the loop,” he said. His store has 750 fans on Facebook from all over the east and even out of state. “They can look at every item we have here in the store and scroll through it.“

The ability to go to people instead of waiting for them to come to you means fast response from potential customers. Coffman has received calls within minutes of posting new inventory.

“It still amazes me today that you can reach people that quickly,” he said.

It’s a reach that is revolutionizing how people do business.

“If you’re a corporation or a non-profit that’s not using social media, than you’re doing yourself a disservice,“ said Roger Conner is the executive director of Go Science, a non-profit organization in Greenville. “Social media should be a component of what you’re doing every day. You should be utilizing it as a venue just as you would a press release to reach out to the community.“

Pictures, posts and chats are just a few ways to keep connected, the most recent social trend to storm cyber space, Tweeting on Twitter.

Brad Proctor started Greenville Tweets and hosts what he calls “Tweet Ups.”

He explained, “A Tweet Up is simply a time for local Twitter users to get together, meet, share ideas, thoughts about social networking.“

Proctor, who also works at Roundtable Toys, has made Twitter part of his business plan, right down to the name tags.

He said, “The one thing, especially, where social media is catching on in the business world and marketing and PR is that you’re meeting people where they already are.“

He’s gained nearly 1,000 followers since they opened in October
. “I really just think it’s going to be more of a phenomenon than I think we realize it is right now. The technology is increasing day after day,” said Proctor.

Coffman says the most important thing now, is finding balance. “I think you have to be very careful because there is a little bit of an issue of harassing the customer.“

He says while sites like Twitter and Facebook, even e-mail allow you to send people Tweets or updates, the last thing you want to do it over do it.

“If you continue to harass the customer they’re going to opt out of an email list or their going to de-friend you,” said Coffman.
Best of all, it’s free for you.  What started as a fad has weaved its way into the fabric of the businesses world.

“Social media is here to stay. It may change forms, it may change names but I believe user generated content that is massly word of mouth will be here for a while,” Proctor said.

The question now is what’s next?