79% of the largest fortune 500 firms “use Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or corporate blogs to communicate with customers and other stakeholders”, according to a study done by PR firm Burson-Marsteller. That number is only increasing.
As many companies start to embrace social networking a common first step is to create a Facebook “Fan page” (54% percent of the companies studied have at least one Facebook Fan page according to the Burson-Marsteller study) or a LinkedIn company profile, or even a Twitter handle where the company will post news about the company, special promotions, and so forth. This is a fantastic start! But it is only a start.
Leading computer manufacturer, Dell is a perfect example of fully embracing this initial phase of social network marketing. Dell has several Facebook and Twitter pages, each with a specific goal. For example, the @DellOutlet Twitter account sends Followers updates around the latest “deals” for Dell Outlet products. Dell has similar Facebook Fan Pages.
In June 2009, Dell reported it had driven $2 Million in sales directly from the aforementioned Twitter account, @DellOutlet. A great achievement for sure, but now think about the reach and impact of activating all of Dell’s employees. They have more connections, reach a wider set of the population and all have unique interests but at least one shared interest – they want Dell to succeed.
Companies that activate their employees will experience a big competitive advantage in the market. Keep in mind activating is not just about turning on access. It is also about defining a strategy, a policy, educating your employees and then giving them the tools they need to be successful.
Here are a few examples of companies taking steps to activate their employees to drive their business:
- Online retailer Zappos has an employee leaderboard that shows who’s on Twitter and how many followers they have.
- PETCO, the pet retailing chain, used its already passionate and engaged employees use of social networking to build an in-house strategy.
- Telstra, the Australian telecom giant has mandatory Social Media training for all of its employees (Telstra has 40,000 employees!). In the training they stress “responsibility, respect and representation”.
- Best Buy’s Twelpforce is a collective force of Best Buy blue shirts offering technology advice whenever and wherever you need it.
Yes, companies are driving revenue through their Fan Pages and Twitter accounts but it is a mere sliver compared to the total impact activated employees are driving on social networks.
Companies in highly regulated industries (such as those regulated by FINRA, SEC, FDA, and so forth) that have blocked access to social networking due to compliance concerns are missing out on a tremendous opportunity.
There are 400 million people on Facebook alone, and that number is rising. Social networking is a channel that must be embraced to maintain a competitive advantage. Whether you are concerned about brand protection or regulatory concerns, implementing a solution to “unlock” social networking for your employees will pay off immensely.
If you were looking for more we’d encourage you to take our Social Networking Risk and Opportunity Assessment. After answering the questions we will provide a detailed analysis for you, generate a specific set of actions and help you prioritize your next steps in engaging with social networks.
Image courtesy of Jason Griffey
This past May,
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Every day we are flooded with statistics about social media use, companies defining policies, companies blocking access and even companies forcing employees to delete their
Kristen Luke



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