We’ve heard countless tales and advice on using social media for B2C, but for B2B? Social media can be a powerful force for B2B, if you know what you’re doing.Mashable.com got tips from 13 social media pros who most definitely do know what they are doing, including Rohit Bhargava (Influential Online Marketing):

People buy expertise. If I had to choose a core difference between how most B2B business operate versus B2C companies, this would be it. While you might buy a box of cookies or even a digital camera because of features or taste, most B2B sales are based on demonstrating some type of expertise either in a type of service or in the category of a product that you are providing. Once you realize this fact, the lesson for using social media effectively is clear: if you can demonstrate your expertise through social media, you can have a measurable impact on your sales efforts.

Fortunately, one of the things that social media can be great for is making expertise visible to the world. White papers can be largely replaced by blogs, long winded demos by online video. When you consider social media as a way to extend and prove expertise, the possibilities are vast. In a world like B2B marketing where reputation and credibility go a long way to helping seal deals, social media is nearly becoming a necessity.

Get all the B2B social media tips here.