The below preview was originally posted at SocialTrenz.com by Sergio Balegno, senior analyst with the MarketingSherpa Research Group, and lead author of the 2009 study, “Social Media Marketing and PR: Benchmarks and best practices for harnessing the power of the social marketplace”.  Visit http://www.socialtrenz.com for the original posts or click here to buy the book.

1,200 client-side marketers, media and creative agencies were asked to name the tactic they think will offer their brand the greatest opportunity for growth in 2009. Social media integration was named most often by a 47% margin over the next leading discipline - Viral public relations - which also happens to be a social media tactic.