Social media and business

They have long been associated with college life, Facebook, Myspace and now Twitter. But Lawrence University senior Madhuri Vijay has noticed a changing virtual crowd.

"I'm friends with some of my employers, I'm friends with several of my parents friends," she said.

Social media are not just being used for social networking anymore.

"A lot of people will dismiss it as, 'oh yeah my kids are on Facebook,'" said Rick Barnes with the Internet marketing company HubSpot in Cambridge, Mass.

Burnes spoke to about 150 business men and women in the Fox Valley on how to incorporate social media in their business plans.

"The explosion is huge," said Burnes. "The thing that's really cool about it is it gives people leverage. It gives small businesses leverage. Traditionally if you wanted to get involved in in a new business you'd have to raise a ton of money, go buy advertisement before you even started selling anything. Today you just sign up for Twitter, sign up for facebook."

Nicole Voelzke with Valley Transit and said after the seminar, she's looking to get the company Facebook-ing, tweeting and the rest.

"I read an article not too long ago that the growing demographic on Facebook is actually 35-44 years old," said Voelzke. "It's not just for kids."

According toNielsen Online, Facebook use has gone up 700 percent just from last year.

Back at Lawrence, Vijay also works in the career center and says with so many more people looking at those websites, she warns students about what they put online.

"Pictures to videos, even wall posts...if you are in the market for a job you really want to think twice before you say anything that could be construed in a less than positive light," she said.

One of many changes as social media continue to move from the dorm room to the board room.