<p>Being social is not something every company can do well. In fact, according to a new report from the research firm Altimeter Group, there are companies that fit along one of six stages of "social business maturity". The idea is that eventually companies will achieve a social "nirvana" and finally understand how their social media strategies can be tied directly to business goals while also making sure that the whole company is tied into that socia process.</p><p>Produced by Charlene Li and Brian Solis, The Evolution of Social Business: Six Stages of Social Business Transformation surveyed approximately 700 social media professionals and executives. From that, it discovered 34 percent of businesses said they felt their social strategy was connected to business outcomes. The authors make it clear that there are two different kinds of social strategies: a social media and a social business one.</p><p>With a social media strategy, a company lays out the channels, platforms, and tactics that are used to support publishing, listening and engagement. On the other hand, in using a social business strategy, relevant technologies and processes are integrated into business values and practices in order to build relationships and cause conversations to happen both in the organization and outside. Both Li and Solis say it will create value and optimizing impact for customers and the business.The six stages of social business maturity</p><p>In their report, Li and Solis say that there is a natural progression for companies as social is tied into how the business is run. In all, there are six distinct stages: Planning, Presence, Engagement, Formalized, Strategic, and Converged.</p><p><a href="http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/03/06/to-truly-be-a-social-business-here-are-the-six-stages-that-every-company-has-to-go-through/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.btobonline.com/article/20130306/SOCIAL/303069998/report-sees-lack-of-social-media-business-alignment">Report sees lack of social media-business alignment</a> (BtoB Magazine)</p><p><a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-business/what-is-predictive-social-commerce-0424052">What is Predictive Social Commerce?</a> (Business 2 Community)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d6ijrIHJRlPHnKMxUEXOnbQ13JzWM&ned=us">39 additional articles.</a></p>