With this current recessions, companies are cutting back on expenses, laying off their workforce and tightening their belts, except for when it comes to their social media campaigns.

(Social media defined by Wikipedia.)

In 2007, when companies were surveyed, they expressed a strong desire to continue making investments in their social media futures. In December 2008, over half of the companies surveyed expressed that they would continue to increase their investment in social media with 42% stating they would stay the same and only 5% planning to decrease.

Companies have heard stories of goofing up their social media. Like the Dell customer who blogged about his troubled purchase and the company's response didn't come for at least a month. That's far too long for how fast word spreads now in our social-media-centered society.

What does that mean that we, as technical writers and professional communicators, should be doing with our futures in social media?

I have started to research this question in order to write a paper for my publications management class. For the most part, what I've found has included general information about how companies should be involved in their social media campaigns. What can we do at a technical writer industry level? as freelance writers? as a community of professional communicators?

Please take the below poll (very brief) and submit comments. I can use your help, big time, with your personal opinion as well as any resources you have come across that discuss this.

What Social Media do you use the most? ( surveys)