With all the talk about “social” this-and-that, you’re probably wondering if I made up the term “social proof.”  While I can’t claim to have coined the phrase, I can tell you that using social proof in your business can dramatically increase your sales.

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eMarketer today published a piece called “Social Network Marketing Expands Sphere” with some encouraging business news about social networks.

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If you’ve never heard Peter Shankman speak in person, well, you should. Not only is he a dynamic speaker with a keen sense of humor, but he’s got a lot of great things to say, especially about succeeding at social media.

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It seems that many companies are catching up with current web marketing trends.  Rather than being 5-6 years behind the curve, they are only a year or two behind the curve in some cases.  In fact, many companies I work with are starting to think beyond the web site — that is, thinking about how to promote their brand in other interactive channels.

So how do you think beyond the web site? Here’s are some things to consider…

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Shrewd business owners know that to survive a downturn, you have to cut unnecessary costs,  advertise to gain visibility and get referrals. In tough economic times, referrals are more important than ever. That’s where social networking comes in.

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You probably didn’t know that early ’90s rap star MC Hammer (remember those pants?) is actually a savvy marketer and entrepreneur. An avid Twitterer with over 134,000 followers, Hammer was recently interviewed on HubSpot TV and shared the following nuggets of wisdom:

• Social media is an extension of what we do naturally, just on a different platform.
• Use technology/the web to cut out the middle man and deliver your message directly to the customer, then let them decide if and when they want to consume it.
• On Twitter: forget trying to get new followers and don’t be concerned with the number. Just stay interesting.
• Even in a recession, companies have opportunities to be more creative to survive what the economy throws at them.

You can see videos of Hammer’s interview at the blog post from HubSpot.