Is Social Media Beneficial for the Rapid Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping Industry?

How many times a day might you be asked if you have a Facebook, Twitter account or Linked In profile? Could you keep count the number of times you hear "Follow me on Facebook/Twitter" when listening to the radio, reading online columns or watching cable TV news programs? What are the odds that YOU have one (or more!) of these overwhelmingly popular social media sites?

Traditional methods of marketing and advertising (print and TV ads, cold calling, trade shows and email blasts) are becoming increasingly supplemented with corporate Facebook, Twitter and Linked In profiles as the power of social media and social networking sites becomes apparent.

Given the technical nature of our industry, as well the often sensitive details of projects that Rapid Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping businesses encounter, what do you think the hits/misses would be of social media marketing/networking for our industry? What social media sites have been effective for your online campaigning?