From Google Glass to virtual reality headsets, the way we communicate as a society is ever-evolving. But never before have the changes been so drastic or rapid.

As communication habits change, businesses need to follow suit in order to stay current and continually resonate with customers. Plus, being at the forefront of these trends allows you to better attract young, new consumers to your business.

Read on to learn the top four ways communication is changing — and how your business can use these progressions to modernize the way you do business.

1. Don't say it, show it

When Twitter launched in 2006, our sentences instantly got shorter, and once-verbose messages had to be condensed to a puny 140 characters. Sending an effective tweet took time to crunch your text.

Almost 10 years later, our language is naturally shorter. With the launch of Instagram in 2010 and the steady growth of YouTube videos, reading lengthy texts no longer appeals to consumers.

Videos and images allow your customers to instantly see how utilizing your product will work for them, instead of reading about it for a few moments. Visual communication — like short, snappy videos, infographics and image-driven articles — is here to stay.

Remember, you can (and should) always edit your business's text by at least 20 percent. Even better, take a photo or short video to make your point more directly and in a more interesting way.

2. Always-present technology

Nearly three-fourths of Americans feel "panicked" if they lose their mobile phone, while 14 percent said they would feel "desperate" without their device. Smartphones and mobile devices have become integral to both our personal and business lives.

With this technology always by your customers' side, businesses no longer have the luxury of a long turnaround. If someone tweets at your company or emails you, they're looking for a quick, personalized turnaround within a few hours. Meaning, the 9-to-5 customer service line no longer cuts it.

Now, your business needs to respond to traditional and digital customer concerns and successes as quickly as possible to gain the respect of your customers.

3. Transparency tops all

Once upon a time, a white little lie may never have seen the light of day. Now, with ever-present mobile devices, a picture or audio clip can be recorded and published to millions in a matter of seconds.

The truth will also surface on the Web. Your business needs to be as transparent as possible and address issues head-on. Being honest up front will also gain the trust and respect of your customers.

4. Analytics prove success

Marketing and public relations no longer have the guess work they once had. With click-through rates and countless tracking tools, your business can track the success of each campaign, advertisement and article. The guess work has vanished.

Now by using the disposable data at your company's fingertips, you can confidently do more of what's working and less of what's not. Now that's power.

Staying on top of — or better yet ahead of — trends and changes in how we communicate is an integral part of keeping your business relevant. When consumers' expectations of communication at large change, you better believe that outlook will impact what they want from your business, too.