social media

What is Social Media and Should My Company Use It?

Simply put, social media is people having conversations online. Thats it. This happens on thousands of sites every day. People talk about everything from environmental issues to what they ate for lunch. At first glance, it can seem overwhelming, but it can actually add tremendous value to your business and provide a hefty return on investment.

From a business standpoint, social media allows you and your company to be involved in these conversations online. Imagine your best sales person at the worlds biggest cocktail party. A good social media team can be just that they know how to find all the right people in the room, to listen and to sell or simply share information. Sometimes all you need to do is listen and respond when necessary.

So, where do you start? Its important to remember that many of the same rules in traditional media still apply online. You still need to know your customers and public and have a solid marketing and public relations strategy. Twitter and Facebook are hot today, but theres not a one-size-fits-all approach. If youre selling Medicare services, you arent likely to reach your audience via Twitter. But if you are an elected official and you want to rally your constituents behind a piece of legislation, Twitter may be the perfect tool for keeping them informed, minute by minute.

It does your company no good to dive into social media without a solid strategy, with goals, guidelines and tactics. What is your ultimate goal? How are you going to achieve it? Who is going to run it? How are you going to respond to negative feedback? Do you have a crisis plan in place? These are all important questions to ask, and its important to find the right people help you navigate social media. In your search for social media experts, keep in mind that individuals and organizations that are already using social media will have a great head start over those that are not.

Back to the original question: Does my company need to be using social media? The answer is yes, in some way. Dont think of social media as something reserved for the technophiles. The question could just as well be Does my company need to be at the worlds biggest cocktail party filled with prospects? I think the response for every company would be a resounding Yes, with the right salesperson in place and a strategy to come away from the party with more than a good buzz.