If you aren’t feeling comfortable jumping into the social networking pool, try finding someone in your organization who is already doing laps!
Chances are you work with people who have Facebook pages, or who are spending time updating their personal Twitter feeds on their lunch hour. Why not do a quick survey and see who is already familiar with this technology, and ask them to create a work profile? Not only will you potentially end up with a more natural or authentic sounding voice, but you just might find a potential marketing genius in your accounting department or driving a truck…empower them with a new opportunity!
Having some guideline or suggestions to help keep your new social marketers on track is a good idea. Here is a great document written by Neil Williams, head of corporate digital channels at Britain’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. This particular document is getting a lot of buzz for its comprehensive and easy to adapt approach to using Twitter.
Once you get someone committed to daily tweets, or weekly Facebook updates for your business, work with them to do some simple tracking. Ask for a weekly update that includes things like:
• Number of followers
• Number of retweets
• Number of @yourname tweets
• Number of Facebook friends/fans
• Number of wall postings
You can ask for the entire content as well, and for any responses posted to those comments. Or, simply open an account of your own and follow the updates in real time! You might just get hooked and start tweeting spontaneously!
Ten minutes a day – that’s all it should take, and you’ve added a practically free, contemporary and concise level to your marketing program - and at the same time given someone who works for you a new chance to shine. Let us know if you think this approach might work for your business, or if you have other ways to encourage people who are reluctant to try social networking to take the plunge!
