Remember those AT & T ads from the 80s? They said, “Reach out and Touch Someone.” Let’s think about that ad campaign with the technology we have today. If you are living in the here and now (and most of us are) then you know about Facebook, Twitter, blogging, LinkedIn, and other social media sites. Companies are embracing social media, because they realize just how many people use it.

The absolute best part of my job is connecting with our clients across the United States and around the world. Although the Internet may be viewed as a necessary evil by some, I enjoy how it has blurred the lines between time zones and cultures. Social media, sometimes called Web 2.0, is changing the face of customer service and how companies talk to their clients and prospects. I recently read a great blog post titled, “Is your Software Vendor your Friend?” and it got me thinking about how I can improve the relationship our company has with our customers.

I use Facebook for several different reasons. Initially, the biggest reason was to make contact with people I went to high school and college with. People I really liked, but hadn’t seen or even talked to in years. It was awesome to hear from old friends about their families and careers. Then I started adding co-workers to my friends list, and then clients, and I became a fan of some of the associations we support.

Are you an NDT client and my friend on Facebook? If not, you should add me as a friend today! Facebook is just one of the many social media tools available to stay in touch with friends, family and customers.  I’ve blogged about this in the past, but if you have a Twitter account, whether it’s personal or corporate, I’d love to have you follow me. Several people say they “don’t get Twitter,” so it’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s a great way to keep in touch with companies and individuals real time.

Over the years, NDT has evolved as a company to improve the way we share information with our customers. Originally, we had forums that our software users could participate in and we’ve evolved to using a Sharepoint site, complete with reports, webinar schedules and more. We’re currently in the process of revamping some of the functionality to make it even better and more usable for our customers.

The pulse of a company is directly related to customers and the way they view their relationship with the company they are doing business with. What are some different ways you like to communicate with a company or with your clients?