Embracing social media.

• Author: Francom, Sarah Ryther
• Position: From the Editor

Facebook, YouTube, Foursquare, LinkedIn. Social media is more than a trend--it has become an integral part of our personal lives and even our business plans. Many local companies have embraced social media in new and innovative ways, reaching out to build relationships and form new online communities. What social media actually brings to a company's bottom line isn't always clear, but what is clear is that social media is here to stay and it is revolutionizing business as we know it.

In this issue's cover story, "Masters of the Medium:' Spencer Sutherland discusses the art of social media and how it has impacted the traditional business model. Sutherland talks to local companies about their social media experiences--many have found great success in surprising ways. Sutherland also talks to local experts who provide tips on how companies can better utilize social media. You can find this feature on page 52.

At Utah Business, we have enjoyed using social media to build a stronger relationship with many of you. As always, our top editorial goal is to provide you with meaningful, compelling and educational articles that will keep you on top of what's happening in Utah's business community. We view social media as another way that we can accomplish this goal. By using sites like Facebook and Twitter, we are able to provide timely, business-focused news alerts. We're also able to routinely post questions and seek feedback...