Yeah. I know. I used to think that using social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for my business was a waste. Who actually has time to read all those tweets and keep track of everything their Facebook friends have to say? Well, apparently a lot of people do. Social media is finally catching on as a way for businesses to reach current and potential customers, and to build brand loyalty and awareness. And nowhere is it catching on as quickly as with today's fastest-growing companies. According to a study of the usage of social media among Inc. 500 companies, conducted by the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, America's fastest-growing private companies adopt social media marketing initiatives at much higher rates than other companies.

I think they're on to something.

However, not all of you seem to agree. Citibank recently conducted its own small business survey, quizzing 552 executives working for U.S.-based companies that posted revenue of more than $100,000, and employed 100 or fewer workers. The results are startling, even to this social media skeptic. According to Citibank, 81 percent of the surveyed companies haven't used social media. When asked why they didn't use social media for their businesses, 47 percent of the executives said they don't believe that Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are of value to their business, 21 percent believe the sites are just for personal use, and 18 percent say they don't know enough how to use the sites. Perhaps even more surprising, almost 40 percent of the surveyed small businesses don't have a website, and 62 percent don't send marketing e-mails to promote their business.

Wow.

There's a reason why today's most-successful and fastest-growing companies are getting into social media -- it works. So if you've been sitting on the sidelines, it's time to get out there and establish your online presence. Your competitors are, and the longer you wait, the deeper the hole you're digging for yourself.