What it is: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, Vimeo, LinkedIn, Tumblr and dozens of other platforms.
What’s the point: Social media is now an expected customer service tool for business. Sprinkled in with snapping selfies and posting pictures of their recent trip to Disney, users are interacting with their favorite businesses in astounding new ways. Where companies used to have to pull teeth to get a simple thumbs up from their customers, they now have direct access to the very people keeping their doors open. With contest tools, photo sharing, surveys and other fun interactions, there’s no reason why every business shouldn’t be implementing a thorough strategy for social media. You pick up the phone when someone calls the office; consider social media your second telephone line.