Quote Originally Posted by GertH View Post
If you're looking at social media as a search engine as Justloadit mentioned ("Do I use social media as a medium when looking for stuff?"), then the majority of the social media platforms are in its infant stages. If you compare social media to another medium, I would compare it to traditional T.V. It's more of an "entertainment" medium and users don't pay to use it, which means the users are the product, and businesses pay to reach those users via advertisements.

Southcape, you are 100% in saying that most businesses "fade" away on social media, however, the correct answer in definitely, yes. Social media definitely works, it's the businesses that "fade" away and think all they need to do is setup a profile and post 1 or 2 posts, is the ones who think social media is not one of the best advertising platforms.
For most local and national businesses the "product" would be a quality targeted customer. Having a profile on social media and posting randomly without a thoroughly developed plan doesn't actually work, I totally agree on that. I don't have the least ambition to become a six-figure corporation, when I use Facebook or Twitter for business, as proposed in some silly marketing ebooks. I have used Buzzigo (http://www.buzzigosocial.com/) for exactly the same online marketing purpose and social media turned out to be the fastest way to attract ready-to-visit prospects to my dental care office, and convert them in to recurring clients.