Redefining Sales Intelligence: Web 2.0/Sales 2.0 to the rescue?

I recently learned about how companies across the world are leveraging the downpour of information in the social media. Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Hi5, etc are giving people a new avenue to come together and share. I guess it was only predictable that businesses would jump on this bandwagon sooner than later.
You’ll often find various companies and groups scouting for your “fan-ship” on these networks. Well, it’s not all bad till you’re not pestered by their sales guys. I personally don’t mind joining such groups. I think they get me a lot of valuable information, well before others can hear about it.
My friend recently wrote a blog post on how business are using a new technology called Sales 2.0 or Web 2.0 to harness the power of the “social media” and drive higher business results. Here’s the link:
http://blog.insideview.com/2010/04/27/connecting-the-dots-how-sales-2-0-can-help-you-connect-with-prospects/

It’s interesting to know how many people are talking so much about better prospecting, “warming” the cold calls, and “connecting” better with their prospects. Although I wouldn’t say cold calling is gone completely, but this theoretically is definitely giving shape to a whole new way of doing it. I’m a field sales guy. I go out in to the market and meet my clients, I don’t call on prospects, I deal directly with stockist’s. Well, that’s because I’m not selling to large businesses, but small wholesalers and distributors, the grocery shop around the corner. Can this new technology help me make my life easier? I don’t think we have answers for that yet.