If you’re working in marketing or any form of public relations, you have to be aware of the how social media is changing the face of the industry. Need real proof of just how all-pervasive social media have become? Check out this out.

That’s right, there is a social networking site for llamas and alpacas. Well, not actually for the woolly beasts (they find it tough to type with hooves), but people with an interest in these animals. “Lama Journal has been created so people who have an interest in alpacas and llamas, can come to one central location online and share information such as photos, videos, and much more…”

If there’s a social network for llama lovers, you can bet there’s one for your B2B target market. Now you need to get out there and start communicating with them.

A tweet today by social media thought leader Chris Berger led me to an interesting post on Ragan.com about the use of social media by the leaders of several large associations for professional business communicators. While Lindsey Miller did a nice job on the research, what I found particularly interesting was the comment posted by IABC President Julie A. Freeman in response to the story.

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Any sales professional will tell you that despite all the tools and tactics that have evolved over the years, most deals are closed because there is personal chemistry between the parties – the buyer simply likes the seller. Yes, even in the “sterile” and prolonged B2B buying cycle, closing deals usually comes down to the personalities of the individuals involved. So why, then, do so many business people keep their personality out of their marketing? Why do we feel the need to keep our prospects at arms’ length?

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A new study by research company BIA/Kelsey shows that less than one-third of small- and medium-sized business are planning to use social media during the next year.

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I recently found a great quote from philosopher-author Anais Nin: “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” I think it’s brilliant in its simplicity and accuracy. It really struck home with me because I had just finished two days of client meetings sitting across from my counterparts from another agency that serves the same client. We were brought together by the client to brainstorm and collaborate on 2010 marketing strategy. This gave me time to watch how my peers interact with this client and gave me pause to reflect on how I handle myself.

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No, of course not. If you haven’t been living under a rock you know that this headline is patently stupid. Blogging is bigger than ever. But asking, “Is [insert topic here] Dead?” grabs attention. So why not do it all the time?

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Anyone who ever played organized sports (or music or dance for that matter) is probably familiar with the coaching axiom, “practice like you play.” In other words, if you practice sloppy you’ll play sloppy in the game or recital. The same thing holds true in marketing communications.

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According to a recent survey done by Forrester Research and Marketing Profs, “94% of respondents consider corporate Web sites a key element in the marketing toolbox and 84% of buyers say Web sites matter in purchase decision making.”

That said, Forrester’s Laura Ramos also points out that most B2B corporate websites “lack the basic building blocks to build customer relationships.”

How is that possible?

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Marketing folks, like those in every industry, often get caught up in their own jargon. But because words are a core component to executing our jobs, it’s somewhat easier to get tangled up. We throw around words and phrases like, “messaging” and “key proposition,” and “positioning statement.” Unfortunately, it’s easy with all this wordplay to lose sight of the one essential element that will make or break your communications efforts.

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When my eight-year-old daughter this morning presented with the Morning Mystery Ailment, I told her it was all in her head and that she’d better hurry because I would not be driving her to school if she missed the bus. These are the exact same words my mother used to “cure” this horrible disease when I contracted it decades earlier. Of course I knew that she had a math test this morning, the true cause of her ailment.

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