Eric Lefkofsky, Groupon Founder – Any business that is looking for new customers needs to understand the Internet and how to market their goods or services through it.

Taken from a NY Times article, A Business Creator Sees Big Returns From Social Media.

Q. Do you think that every business needs to rethink what social media means to its future?

A. Today, I think that every business is again in serious flux because of the rise of all these social tools. Take telemarketing sales, for example. Why would your business ever make a cold call again?

Q. What’s the alternative?

A. Certainly businesses are using Facebook and Twitter to reach thousands of customers that historically they might have had to call or e-mail to reach. I think everything will begin with a person’s individual connection to the graph. That’s how small businesses will get customers, promote products and get feedback from their customers.

Q. Should dry cleaners have social media strategies?

A. Yes. Any business that is looking for new customers needs to understand the Internet and how to market their goods or services through it.

Read the entire article via Eric Lefkofsky, Groupon Founder, on Why Social Media Is Hot – NYTimes.com.