"Web Marketing isn't about computers, it's about Humans."

Now that big companies are using New Media, will they be able to use it for the good of their customers? Heck can any size company use it for more than just marketing?

On our local news channel they highlighted a cable company that’s able to respond to customer requests FASTER on twitter than on their in house phone and email system? What?!!?!!? OK, Twitter is fantastic, but what’s going on here?

Don’t scrap doing business right for doing business the coolest way. New Media Guru Paul Colligan is struggling with some flights right now because Orbitz just plain messed up. They have publicly responded via Twitter that they’ll fix it, but as of this writing, they have not made it work. In fact on one flight, Paul is scheduled to leave on a connection before he even arrives.

If you are a business taking on New Media there are a few simple rules you can follow:

1) Be a business person first - it’s ok to be transparent - but remember the world is watching and listening.

2) If you make promises - keep them - period, new media or not, your reputation is on the line.

3) Don’t overwhelm yourself with every new media site out there. Pick one, make it a part of your social media and business plan, once you have that properly integrated, you can add others, one at a time.

4) Mind your ROI - sure you can spend lots of time Twittering and Friending, but if you are not getting the benefits of SEO, Referrals, and NEW CLIENTS … you need to improve your process so you can improve your results.