What are your thoughts on businesses being present on social media sites?

We find ourselves at PW saying often that in social media, everything connects. Allow me to recount a connection story from last night.

I was catching up on my Google Reader RSS feeds, decided to take a break from tech & financial marketing posts to scroll through my bookmarked Design blogs.

Found a local Manchester, NH apartment featured on apartmenttherapy.com. I read more–turns out the owner is a photographer, I visit her site. Immediately noticed a “become a fan on Facebook” tab at the bottom of the page. Since I like her work, I click, become a fan and post on her page’s wall. She replied to me. In a matter of minutes, strangers became connected. In just a few easy to navigate clicks, future business may have even been acquired.

From a business stance, offering different ways for potential audiences to connect with you is a smart move. Sanford Institution for Savings (disclaimer: PW client) links to both their Twitter and Facebook pages from their homepage. The bank uses these pages to connect back to fresh content on their website. By listing these other sites, they are encouraging visitors to choose how they want to interact with them. For me personally, I’d much rather check out information as it comes through my Twitter stream or on a Facebook business page than have to make a separate trip to my bank’s website (which to be honest, I probably wouldn’t do in the first place). Come find and talk to me where I’m already spending my online time. Be present and relevant. I’ll choose whether I want to follow you or become a fan.

Bottom line: create more opportunities to connect with your communities and prospects. From photography to banking, social media doesn’t discriminate. A business always has a public and they’re already on social networks–are you?

*Update 8/19: Since this post was written, Sanford Institution for Savings is no longer maintaining their Facebook and Twitter accounts.