The Corporate Storyteller

It's obvious that Internet-based communications has expanded at a rapid pace, but the rate of growth for social media is still likely to astound you. According to Eric Qualman, the author of Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business, here's how long it took for traditional and Web-based media to gain millions of followers:

* Radio audiences grew to 50 million over a period of 38 years

* TV viewership grew to the same number in 13 years

* The Internet acquired 50 million users in just 4 years

* Facebook added four times as many users--200 million--in just one year!

Social media clearly has an important role in your communications plan. The key is to get your story out in ways that your target audience prefer to receive it.