(cut & pasted from www.heathergardner.com)

I can’t tell you how many times (it’s too high to count) I hear different objections surrounding the use of Web 2.0 Social Media as a business tool.

“BUT” I don’t know how it would work with my business.

“BUT” it seems too complicated.

“BUT” I don’t have time to figure out how it works.

Here’s my story of Social Media and it’s great affects:

$ $ $ Dave Mendoza $ $ $

Okay, most of you know the story of how Dave Mendoza made me RICH – if not, take a look at my archives. BUT did you know that Dave Mendoza added to my savings account yet again?

Dave recently published a blog interview he had with me. It was a two part and produced some amazing response from his readers. One professional recruiter in particular contacted me as a result of his blog.

After our initial correspondence, this recruiter discovered an upset within her current organization and reacted by sharing it with me. Within days I had her interviewing with my company - her second and third interviews happened nearly immediately, followed by an accepted job offer.

As recruiters we are paid on results. A hire like this = $$$$ in my bank account - Thanks again to DAVE MENDOZA and his powerful blog.

@Twitter

Twitter. The name is even kind of cute & catchy. Twitter is a micro blogging tool, more powerful than many new Tweets realize. I’ll share just one of many examples.

A few weeks ago, my in-laws had trouble with their Comcast Digital Voice, Cable and Internet service. For lack of better words, all of their services went down completely for weeks. While listening to my husband on the telephone coaching his father via cell, I tweeted this:

http://twitter.com/heathergardnerlistening to my husband argue about how to deal with comcast digital voice/cable/Internet - OMG… 09:01 PM May 18, 2008 from web”

With an hour, I had received a reply from @comcastcares aka Frank.

The problem was escalated and FIXED within 1.5 days. Thanks Frank, the twit behind the tweet

facebook

Last week, I posted a tweet asking if “any of my Bay Area Tweets needed Admin’s.”

Since I have my Twitter account linked to my Facebook, this post automatically populated into my Facebook’s News Feed.

From Facebook, a friend working for a large Fortune 500 company responded with an “I do.” An Admin order for our Silicon Valley branch office, with just one tweet into Facebook.

For the naysayer that says, “BUT” I can’t figure out how it can relate to my business, I say take heed! There are so many ways to learn about how to put it all into place and get solid results.

The examples I’ve shared are just a few of many. I have more!!!

Talent Technology is a great start. They have a wonderful Social Media Web 2.0 Employment Branding Webinar currently downloadable from their website. It’s one of the most fantastic ones I’ve attended. Though designed around employment branding, it makes perfect sense for many other business branding. Check it out.

So for all of you with big “BUT’s”… let’s trim them down. Social Media should flatter & compliment your business. If it’s not, you’re on the wrong Web 2.0 diet.