Jeff Korhan: Predictions for 2011

Companies in all industries are learning they now have to embrace technology to meet the expectations of their customers.

Traditional methods of marketing, sales and service are no longer relevant. Returning all of your phone calls within 24 hours used to be the benchmark of professionalism. Now customers expect immediate access to you and your staff.

Social networking is a platform that gives your customers a voice, and they are using it to be heard.

This is why it will be vital for businesses to establish a presence on the major social networks to monitor what is being said about their brand, and to encourage a dialogue with customers and influencers.

Web forms can be embedded on your website or blog to allow customers and field representatives to make service requests. This is easily accomplished with Google docs. This minimizes time-consuming phone calls, pushes data to a central location and is available 24/7.

Jeff Korhan is a speaker, consultant and top-ranked blogger on new media and small business marketing at www.jeffkorhan.com. Mail korhan@gie.net.