We continue to beat the drum for more use of social media as part of any brand’s corporate marketing and communications strategy. And for good reason. As this new study points out, the use of social engagement strategies by major corporations continues to rise. This past year, the research indicates that brands using a cohesive strategy for their social engagement activities rocketed from 20% to 33%.

In a tough economy, it’s standard protocol to do everything you can to hold onto market share. But it’s a big online community out there and social engagement is a very smart, cost-effective way to generate awareness and interaction with you brand and your products. Doing good work and having clever products is not enough to succeed in today’s dynamic global marketplace. The Internet has changed marketing and public relations forever.

If the biggest, best known brands in the world are using social media tools, why aren’t you? You’re selling yourself short by leaving social media strategy out of your marketing mix.