The Power of Social Networking . . . 187 privileges, such as stats and reports, that are not avail- able to general users.) Social networks are attractive to businesses because consumers are connecting with other consumers, so trust tends to be higher. Secondly, there’s a tremendous amount of media buzz about this newest form of mar- keting. Lastly, there are lots of folks using social net- works. In 2007, according to Forrester Research, about two- thirds of all American youth used at least one social networking website daily, and about one- third of U.S. adults used one as least once a month. 吀栀e 昀椀gures are sure to be higher now. Staying up to speed is a daily challenge for all of us in the information age. Incorporating new communication habits is a stretch. But when you realize that, instead of purchasing ad space or hiring a PR 昀椀rm, you can market yourself for free from your living room in the amount of time it takes to write a tweet. 吀栀ere’s a lot to be grateful for with regard to technol- ogy. So say thanks, and get to work. Once upon a time, artists needed to partner with managers and agents in order to get their work seen. Once upon that same time, authors needed agents, publishing houses, and bookstores in order to get their work known. Not anymore. You have the power now, at the click of a keypad, to be not only an author, but also a PR company, a publisher, an agent, and a speaker.