When someone returns from a trip overseas, one of the first things that person talks about is riding in a taxi.  For most, it is a sobering experience where death seems near eminent the entire time.

I usually respectfully listen as people describe their worst experiences knowing that nothing could top the experience of riding around in India.  In all countries, there are walkers, bikers, cars, taxis, etc.  In India, add to that cows.  And the cows are sacred.  No lanes, rickshaws, cows walking with or against traffic.  You get the picture.

Amidst this chaos, 313 people die each day in auto-related accidents in India.  That’s roughly 100,000 people a year, fewer than 10% of the world’s yearly 1.3 million auto-related deaths.

So, how is one of the most notoriously bureaucratic governments in the world combating this problem?  They are tapping the power of social media.  In order to reach their 2012 goal of decreasing auto-related deaths by 50%, the Indian government will begin using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in an attempt to reach the growing online population.

How are you using Social Networks to reach your target audience be it an attempt to sell products, attract an audience, or save lives.  Linking and Search Engine Optimization are wonderful techniques.  But have you considered the power of a fan of yours doing your marketing for you?  Someone who loves your product will advertise for you free of charge.