IBM Expands Social Networking- Click here http://bit.ly/kK1345 for full article

IBM Expands Social Networking- Click here http://bit.ly/kK1345 for full article

IBM is embracing social media with a new option known as IBM Connections. It is the industry's first social networking platform featuring real-time compliance capabilities. The purpose of the new option is to help businesses embrace the potential of a new era of so-called social business, referring to using social media to reach customers.

The new software lets businesses track and trace all social data going on throughout their organization. The information is then analyzed and presented in real-time offering an alternative to waiting for a final analysis at the end of the day. The main reason for such an effort by IBM is the increasing prevalence of social media in all aspects of our lives. The marketing opportunities available via social platforms are expected to increase to more than two billion on a global level by 2014.

The accompanying software to IBM Connections is IBM Connections 3.01 software. The software accesses various online communities, blogs, micro-blogs, wiki sources and other online social sources and presents the information to clients, employees and partners. The software gives businesses the ability to monitor social traffic, retrieve relevant data from conversations and posts and upload related files in real-time.

Alistair Rennie of IBM sums it up by acknowledging that the benefits of social business are "too great to ignore." The software allows businesses to swiftly keep up with new advancements in social business and use the emerging media to their advantage. Rennie contends that keep real-time tabs on social business connections can also spur creativity and accelerate innovation.

In the world of social communications it doesn't take long for a message to get out. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be the wrong message. Up until now, the only recourse businesses had was to wait until the next business day and use traditional methods to try to correct an image or impression that may not be what was intended. A carefully worded statement or strategic PR or marketing campaign is not as effective when social sources are not incorporated into such efforts.

IBM has developed a reputation as a leader in the world of business. Social communication has previously been thought of as a frivolous trend. Recent research shows that a growing number of people get their information on a business through social sources. IBM Connections is a way for businesses and organizations to monitor social communications and use the new media to their advantage.