I first wrote this post for the Lift Summit blog, where I’ve been contracted to create posts promoting awareness for the event (for money). They have been awesome enough to let me repost it here.

Social media has revolutionized the way we connect with others, exponentially increasing our social circles. Using tools like Facebook, Twitter, Kaboodle and more, we are connecting with people who we would never have had the opportunity to know otherwise. People who with similar interests, values and aspirations. But these platforms aren’t only changing our social lives; they’re influencing our approach to business.

Social media is a new wave of getting back to the basics of the right way to do business. It brings out the human behind the corporate brand. It gives consumers—and potential consumers—an emotional connection to an organization, which can cultivate loyalty and longevity. It encourages companies to become what consumers want by paying attention to what they’re saying. As this video by Socialnomics points out, social media is guiding businesses to act more like Dale Carnegie: listening first, selling second.

On September 23, Lift Summit will feature a keynote presented by Eric Qualman, further explaining “How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business.” Eric is the author of Socialnomics—which is currently #1 on Amazon’s list for Online Marketing books—and the Global Vice President of Online Marketing for EF Education. He is a published fiction author, has been highlighted in publications like Forbes and AdvertisingAge, and hosts his own social media blog.

Lift: The B2B Social Commerce Summit is a “must attend” event for marketing executives, senior management and business owners looking to apply real-world social tactics that drive sales lift to their business. This year’s event will take place on September 23 in Atlanta.