According to the website, www.2012socialbusinessstudy.com, a recently completed study, presented jointly by FedEx and Ketchum, updates and expands upon research first undertaken in 2010 that analyzes the changing impact of social media on business today. Organizations are leveraging social media tools to evolve into social businesses - creating communities and relationships with external and internal stakeholders that are transforming the way they do business. This has impacted organizational structure and hierarchies in a way that will continue to drive successful companies to become more adaptive and responsive to their stakeholders' needs and preferences. 

Tune in to Biz Talk With Josh on CBS Radio on Thursday, August 30 to listen to host, Joshua Smith, FedEx' Renée Horne, Director, Digital & Social Media Engagement, and Michelle Mahony, Director at Ketchum Pleon Change, Ketchum's change management, employee engagement and workforce communications consultancy, discuss the findings of this interesting and informative report and its impact on small businesses. View the full report at the above-highlighted link and send us your observations and questions to josh@biztalkwithjosh.com.

Ms. Renée Horne currently serves as Director of Digital & Social Media Engagement at FedEx. An enabler of connecting a global workforce, she leads an organization responsible for engaging employees and external audiences utilizing multimedia content, digital channels and innovative social technologies. Ms. Michelle Mahony works with some of the world's leading organizations to connect people to their businesses through breakthrough employee and brand engagement, communication, and change strategies that truly have an impact on the achievement of business goals. 

Social media is a frequently talked about and often questioned methodology for outreach to potential customers and establishment brand management. Is it right for your small business, or can you afford not to be present and accessible when people utilize social media to find the products and services they seek?