Tag Archives: twitter

Brand Focus #6: The Power of a Common Cause Using #SocialMedia

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You may have heard of many stories on how powerful social media platforms are to drive causes such as the Pepsi Refresh Project that rewards individuals with refreshing ideas or the Fair Tweets campaign by Ben & Jerry’s. What do they all have in common? 1. A great cause 2. An innovative idea and 3. Huge participation that led to success.

While there isn’t a success formula that you can reproduce, the one thing that stands among all successful marketing campaigns or causes is that there is something for others to talk about – a common passion, a common interest, a common curiosity or even a common anger like the recent lashings against designer brand Versace.

Having that said, it is not the level of innovation that draws people together (although it contributes to its success) but the level of the common ground established.

The Power of a Identifying a Common Goal / Cause on Social Media

A community is a powerful ‘being’, be it offline or online and today’s social media networks makes it so easy for one to start their own community. It is no wonder why businesses jump unto the bandwagon almost immediately as they recognize the need and the power of having their very own community.

It was all over the news – Malaysia, the country I live in became famous over the weekend as it was broadcasted globally due to a recent event named Bersih (clean) which involved a peaceful rally in the heart of Kuala Lumpur demanding for a fair and clean upcoming election. You may have only heard about it and perhaps are aware of what happened during the rally but what caught my interest most was how the entire cause was promoted heavily over social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter weeks before.

spreading a cause using social media

You’ll realize that the cause not only drew close to 160,000 fans but people also spread the cause willingly because it was something they can relate and resonate with, to the extend that they opted to place a badge on their display pictures (as seen in the screen shot above) to indicate their support.

What happened on Twitter? Well, you can simply search the hashtag #bersih to find out for yourself. All I can say is that the tweets flew by so quickly that I can’t even read them (and I thought I was well trained on #blogchat).

On top of that, Malaysians in other countries such as Taiwan, Melbourne and Singapore also ‘participated’ in the rally by gathering where they’re at to show their support. The medium of communication? Social media. Live updates on Facebook, Twitter and even recorded videos on YouTube.

From a business viewpoint, that is definitely a success story as word-of-mouth has taken its course and in this case, internationally.

What is it in your cause that causes others to resonate?

This is the question you should be asking yourself whatever your cause is, profit or not.

What makes others passionate about the cause? What is it that causes others to feel the same? Could it be empathy? Could it be anger? Could it be pride? Could it be fun?

Have that answered, then all that’s left is to identify the right communication medium to spread the word.

Is there a specific cause that strikes you the most? What is it that draws you to it?

The 5 Groups of Marketers on #SocialMedia

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Having worked and talked with a number of businesses in Malaysia, I find that there are 5 groups of people out there when it comes to taking on social media. Whether they are small business owners, marketing personnel from large corporations or even individuals, they all seem to fall into one of the groups below:

Group 1: The Fans

You know social media is the way forward. You embrace it no matter where they are or the situation that they’re in. You know your way in and out of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter. You are very active and you’re everywhere – perhaps the first to jump on that new social network recently launched – there is just no social media tool you will miss, as long there is “social media” labeled on it.

Group 2: The Skeptics

You feel that social media is a trend and it will soon fade away simply because conventional media still reigns. Perhaps you’ve tried this social media thingy and found that it does not work for you and does not see how it can for others, too. You may see it as a gimmick that marketing agencies are trying to sell and you just don’t see why would anyone want to follow your business on Twitter or check-in to your business on Foursquare. Social media is overrated.

Group 3: The Navigators

These are the people that know their way around social media. You know what are the best tools around, what works and what does not, what tools to use for a particular situation. You see the potential of social media and know how it can both benefit and fail your business depending how it is managed. You’ve all the knowledge and is constantly learning and you’re good in putting together strategies and plans to make it work for you.

Group 4: The Lurkers

Or perhaps also known as readers. You go around reading blog posts, tweets from specific #hashtags, following those at the top in the industry, always accumulating knowledge on your own. Yes, you may have your own social media accounts but they are just avenues for you to obtain information or maybe even to keep tabs on your competitors. You may also be feeling inadequate because others seem to be more knowledgeable / experienced than you.

Group 5: The Creators

Just the opposite of Lurkers – you create content and participate across social media platforms. You’ve that burning desire within you to keep sharing what you have, not afraid of what another may think of you. Chances are you already have a blog and is on Twitter or Facebook (at least) to get your words and thoughts out. You’re participating in chats, communities, groups and comments. You’re doing it as a way to express your thoughts and ideas.

Which Group Do You Fall Under?

So, how do you see yourself on social media? I say I’m a little bit of a creator + navigator (and fan :p) when it comes to social media, simply because I get excited when talking to people about it and even more so when the question pops “how can my business use social media?”.

Before Doing Anything, Know Yourself

Many times individuals and businesses fail on social media because they THOUGHT they should be what they aren’t. Unless you’re a master of disguise, the consumers can see through you right away. Understand that there is no right or wrong group to fall under.

However, if you’re only obsessed about content creation, don’t neglect lurking once in awhile. If you’re all about lurking, maybe you should put your knowledge together and be a navigator instead. Too much of a group can also be your downfall.

What about you? What group do you fall under?

Are You Lost on #SocialMedia (even with the tools)?

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Just a couple of days ago I was traveling downtown for an event. I must admit that I wasn’t sure of the directions as I seldom go by there but I thought it will be okay – with my trusty Google Maps. After all, it has never failed me. I hooked it up, followed its directions confidently… and lo and behold, it led me directly into a one-way street (and I would go against traffic). “Well, it happens”, I thought. A quick recalculation pointed out a new direction… which eventually led me to the same road. To cut the long story short – eventually I was directed out of the vicinity after almost an hour of trial and error.

I was pretty much annoyed and upset over this TOOL I relied on the get me there and it got me thinking – are businesses and individuals today facing similar situations? Yes, you have the tools (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, YouTube, etc) and perhaps even have the guidebook (e.g. how to create compelling content, how to create an awesome Facebook page, etc) but yet unable to get your bearings right?

Are You Lost? 5 Steps to Be Found Again!

#1: Admit That You’re Lost

Sometimes it is difficult to admit that you’re lost. Excuses such as “it doesn’t work for my business” only makes you feel better but it is time to put that ego aside. One thing about social media is that you can never stop learning, especially when it continues to change everyday. Even the pros continue to learn – it is a continuous cycle.

#2: Ask for Directions

It’s time to put away that map or tool (e.g. guidebook) of yours and start talking to people – people that are able to give you advice. The cool thing about social media is that most pros are willing to share their knowledge and expertise. @markwschaefer is one good example with his community {grow}. In other words, it is time to get personal, to communicate, to engage, to get help.

#3: Don’t Take Shortcuts

There really is no shortcut on social media. One said social media is like running a marathon, not a sprint race. You’ll notice that most advice revolves around producing quality content, spending time listening to conversations on Twitter, commenting on blogs, guest posting and etc – all these takes time, it is a race of endurance for lasting results. Buying fans or followers won’t get you anywhere except for boosting your ego. Shortcuts are a no-no.

#4: Test the Directions

This is the simplest step of all but yet the most difficult. Simply because there are many, many out there that either procrastinate, ignorant or simply cannot be bothered with the new directions. Yes, sometimes it may be a detour but as long it gets you there, why not?

#5: Monitor its Results

You need to know how the new directions are working for you. It is only then you’ll be able to gauge its effectiveness (or not) to make adjustments if necessary. A simple tool such as Google Analytics can go a long way if you’re wanting to measure visits to your site.

Have you been lost on social media before? What did you do to get back on track? I’d love to hear your experience!

Beneath the Dollar Signs

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Have you attended seminars by internet marketers promising never-work-again concepts with huge “guaranteed(?)” profits? Or perhaps see them tweeting selling away on social networks such as Twitter?

They show you impressive screenshots of PayPal withdrawals and Adsense payouts, followed by a chart indicating the potential of their “proven(?)” system that make you back your investment within 90 days.

Sounds familiar?

Interestingly, I’ve been bombarded with similar encounters a little more than usual in the past week. I’ve been sitting down with a couple of people to hear of their awesome business plans that can make them thousands monthly and how they are going to start off.

Guess what?

They do not know how to

Sure, they have this product that could make them money and it may come with a guidebook or some sort but do they know how to go about marketing it? Don’t get me wrong – they KNOW what needs to be done. After all, it is in that guidebook provided for. “Advertise on pay-to-click (PTC) sites for traffic”, “Advertise on Google Adwords”, “Use Facebook Ads for targeted traffic”, “Use this web template and get your website started for traffic”. Awesome strategies… but HOW?

I believe all of us are somewhat related to the situation above. It may not  be exactly the same, but have you got caught in a situation where you’re stuck, not knowing how exactly to make it happen for you to replicate the success?

Here are 5 Painful Truths

Painful Truth #1:

Things are never as simple as it seems to be.

See how some bloggers grow at a rocket pace, receiving bucket loads of retweets, Adsense earnings, sky rocketing Google Analytics charts and etc? You’ve no idea how much effort was put for that to happen – many successful personalities only managed to get where they’re at through past mistakes and heaps of experience. Think about this way – if a specific system can get you rich in 90 days, why aren’t everyone rich yet?

Painful Truth #2:

What worked for others may not work for you.

Yes, and I’ll say that again. In fact, what worked for you may not work for me either. Every individual has its own ecosystem consisting of different networks, people, culture, even location. These factors can very well determine how far (or short) a distance you can go. Think about it – if you’re selling football boots among a group of football friends, you can definitely do a much better job than someone else whom has group of friends that plays tennis instead.

Painful Truth #3:

You’re blinded by the dollar signs.

We all want to be successful in one way or another and sometimes, success can be blinding. You saw the potential and you wanted it for yourself. Nothing wrong in that but if you become too fixated on that alone, you’ll lose out all the fun or experience that comes along the way and in some cases, lose out on the success itself. Take blogging for an example: If your only goal is to make money out of your blog – you may not reach it. Simply because you’re missing out on the essence of blogging itself and may have branched out too quickly onto paid advertorials, ad placements and etc – driving all your readers away!

Painful Truth #4:

You’re in for great challenge.

For some, it is a new learning curve – how to create an effective squeeze page, how to use Twitter to build a network, how to create a community on Facebook or in a worse case scenario – how to use that product in the first place. For another, it may be the competition. Understand this – if someone is already making millions out of that specific product, it can mean two things: either the product is awesome; or the market is already saturated. Plus, everyone else that has the same idea with you will be doing the same thing. How will you be different from them?

Painful Truth #5:

Short cuts?

Unfortunately, there are none. One can only advice and assist but there is no success formula. However if you do have one, I would love to hear you out ;)

 

How about you? Have you come across similar situations? Do share them with me by leaving a comment below :)

Introducing the BufferApp – Social Media Done Right

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Just about a week ago I talked about the various 3rd party applications I use to enhance my Twitter experience and if you remember, BufferApp is one of them. Despite it’s awesome functionalities (especially after the recent update which I’ll share with you a little further), what makes BufferApp awesome is beyond that. It actually lies in how the founders and creators of BufferApp actually ‘humanize’ the application, and here are 2 simple reasons why I say so:

#1: They LISTEN

Truth be told, I’m even more impressed with the people behind the product than the product itself. Both @LeoWid and @joelg87 are amazing people. They are on a consistent look out for ideas, listening to what each and every user has to say about BufferApp to improve its usability. Crowd sourcing – that is what they are doing. And they are doing it right!

This also reminds me that many projects / products fail because someone tried to pack too much into it at one go – resulting in an overly complicated product or an extended timeline to which sometimes lead to no ending. What they did is to launch a simple and lightweight product that works, THEN rollout updates that caters to the users.

What do they get out of it? They save time, and they can get the functions right.

What do we get out of it? A product that we love!

#2: They ENGAGE

The worst thing that can happen is to drop someone a DM or @mention and you get a reply days after (or never!). As for BufferApp, you can be assured that they will respond to you – whether it is a simple ‘hello’, a complain or a complement, you can expect a reply. Don’t believe me? Put them to the test and experience for yourself!

Simple as it sounds, the above is really the essence of being social and businesses should realize that social networks are not a place to rack up the fan / follower count and blast them with sales pitches.

Now, the BufferApp

You simply tell Buffer your schedule... once!

Okay, enough about the great people behind the product – now the product itself. I started using this nifty tool a few weeks back and what really caught my attention is the ability to automatically schedule tweets periodically but yet have so much control over the tweets. What I really meant is that you do not need to schedule every individual tweet manually anymore, unlike TweetDeck, HootSuite or etc.

What makes Buffer different is that it also comes with optional add-ons (or goodies): a Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox browser extension.

This means that you can even schedule your updates OUTSIDE of BufferApp.com by simply clicking on the Buffer extension on your browser window to reveal…

 

this!

You can opt to “Tweet Now” where you share the content immediately or “Add to Buffer” where the content will be added to your queue of updates on Buffer. Did I also not mention the “Shorten Links” feature? These 3 are perhaps the most sought after functions when it comes to sharing a Tweet (at least for me).

Buffer did not forget about the mobile users, too! Instead of developing an individual mobile application to suit all existing smart phones, they took a step forward (or backward) to come up with a very simplistic yet smart way of making Buffer happen for a larger population – through email. Yes, all you need to do is to share your content via email on your mobile and send it to: [email protected] where the subject is your tweet, and the body is your link – and it will automatically be added unto your Buffer queue.

 

Tweet Suggestions - plenty of them!

Now comes my all-time favorite function – “Suggest me a Tweet” where Buffer generates a random tweet for you! I spend quite a bit of time looking through all the tweets at times just to see what will I get. Quotes by the famous, articles by bloggers and even jokes – you can get them all in a click.

That’s not all!

I find it really fascinating to see how Leo and Joel is able to roll out updates almost every single week at such a rapid pace – something many projects (especially startups) aren’t able to do. Their dedication says it all and they are making it happen beyond a great social product – but being social themselves.

My Description of Buffer in 140 Characters

If you’re interested in looking up what are all the other functions of Buffer (analytics, bit.ly integration, button for blogs and more), click here to see a full list of them (and be prepared for more to come)!

Don’t believe what I have to say about Buffer? See what others have to say over here!

important note: this article is not by any chance a paid review, advertorial or request by anyone representing BufferApp and / or its founders and it is solely written on my experience with @LeoWid and @BufferApp itself.

What Twitter Tools Do You Use?

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Twitter has grown to be a favorite for many as it allows many to listen, respond and search real time. Statistically, the usage of Twitter among social marketers continues to soar in 2011 and 73% of the companies are looking towards increasing their activities on Twitter in the future.

source: Social Media Examiner

What intrigues me the most  is that Twitter is perhaps one of the few social media tools where most users use AWAY from the site itself (Twitter.com), especially prior to the release of #NewTwitter in the recent months. In other words, people are using Twitter via 3rd party applications such as TweetDeck, Seismic, Echofon, CoTweet and more.

The same goes for me. I never did use Twitter.com but started out with a humble web application on Google Chrome called Chromed Bird. At that time, it served what I needed it to do – to view my timeline, see all the @mentions and DMs I have. It was all that I needed to do, plus the app icon (a bird) changes color (blue to green) when there is an update. I thought that was really cool.

See how the bird changes to green?

As the number of people I follow slowly increased in numbers, I realized that the icon becomes green almost instantly even after looking through the updates seconds ago. Feeds kept coming into my timeline and before I know it, Chromed Bird was always left open. I can’t possibly be looking at the timeline all day. I knew I needed something more powerful than the faithful Chromed Bird.

The exploration begun.

Realizing I can organize my followings into different lists, I found TweetDeck which allows me to view multiple panes at ease – my timeline, @mentions, DMs, lists and even #hashtags at one go! Oh, it also allowed me to schedule my tweet, which is great for me to publish the articles written on this blog periodically…

… until I found TweetDeck failing me very often with repeated errors thus I continued to explore other applications. I jumped back and forth from Seesmic, Hootsuite and Tweetdeck for a couple of weeks and found that I still preferred the desktop version of TweetDeck but I still required a tool that can assist me in schedule at ease.

I used Hootsuite to schedule, but TweetDeck to stay ‘connected’.

The day came when StumbleUpon released su.pr which I thought it was an awesome (and time saving) tool as it allows me to now schedule AND submit my content to StumbleUpon at the same time! The switch was easy – with a huge drawback – the time zone is fixed in # while I am in a GMT +8.00 zone. I stuck with su.pr regardless because it saved me time so I came up with a posting schedule on an Excel spreadsheet that converts all the timing into my time zone as a personal reference. It was a necessary pain (and I never got to schedule past 2 days because the time conversion becomes confusing).

Fast forward to the present – then came along a new gem – the BufferApp. I must say that the BufferApp is the best tool I’ve used thus far. Not only it automatically schedules my tweets to the time I want, it has a nifty Chrome app that allows me to schedule my external content sharing with just a click! This also means that I can now share contents at ease without worrying that I’m flooding the timeline of my followers. Cool, huh? What makes it better is that the co-founder of BufferApp, @LeoWid has been of utmost help throughout my experience with the app. It is no wonder this app is spreading like wildfire all over the Twitterverse in just 2 months!

What is Buffer? from Joel Gascoigne on Vimeo.

So, what do I use now?

Twitter.com – Just to manually look through my followers one by one

TweetDeck – To listen to my followers, lists and #hashtags

Su.pr – For link shortening and instant submission to StumbleUpon

BufferApp – For scheduling tweets and retweeting other quality content

ReSearch.ly – To identify the current conversations and trending topics

What are your Twitter experiences? What are the tools you use? Do share them below :)

p.s. the above only depicts my personal usage with Twitter and does not include the tools I use when managing client accounts on social networks :)

p.p.s. you may want to give BufferApp a try, too! It makes automation a whole lot more human.


 

Quality Over Quantity, Really?

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is quality the only criteria on social media?With the number of new blogs and social media accounts being setup every single day, it is no wonder why quality is preferred over quantity. After all, visitors prefer quality content over frequency of updates, right? The question is – is that all it is to it?

This has always been a topic amongst bloggers and businesses alike. I know of bloggers that go all out, putting up at least 3 posts a day with the reason of generating more traffic. Nothing wrong with that as long it is working for him. There are also others – businesses, to be exact, that posts only on a weekly basis. Does that make them weaker candidates on social media?

How about status updates on Facebook and on Twitter? Are frequent updates more inclined to be followed or be seen as ‘active’ on the network? Or will an update a day do the trick?

Is Quality ‘IT’?

Sure, quality is very important especially today where everyone can create content. Imagine – with 600 million users on Facebook, 1 update per user produces 600 million updates. That’s some massive content but how many of them are quality content? Quality content allows you to rise above the social media clutter. The usage of words, language proficiency, degree of insight, research and more all contribute to quality content.

One thing from missing from the list of quality content is that you’ll also require to have a quality NETWORK or COMMUNITY. Producing quality content without the right audience renders your hard work useless. With the right network, your content has the potential to gain more eyeballs and spark off even more ideas through discussions.

What About Quantity?

Having that said, let’s come back to the question – is quantity insignificant then? I personally do not think so. Quantity matters, too! Here are 4 simple reasons why:

1. If you’re new to social media, it matters to make yourself visible. Post frequently and consistently to capture attention. Avoid using same sentences in your updates as you do not want to be spammy! Be creative.
2. If you’re a blogger, the total amount of your posts count. This does not mean that you should be posting relentlessly, but your post count should show that you’re consistent and you’re serious. Readers may not find you credible / serious if your last post is 6 months away.
3. If you update Facebook, Twitter or more, your interactions count. You should engage in conversations with your customers and networks – don’t just chat, share ideas and position yourself as both an avid learner AND an expert in your field.
4. If you use Twitter, the number of your followers speak. The number of lists you’re added to also speaks. Most people only follow others that have more followers than how many they are following (i am one of them) because it indirectly suggests that you’re ‘followable material’ and that there is just something about you.

What does this mean?

“Quantity matters in social media. The trick is knowing the right amount to spill.”

Sharing time! What is your take on quantity and quality? Do leave your comments below!

How to: Manage Your Time on Social Media?

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How to: Manage Your Time on Social Media?

Let’s face it – as many benefits we can draw from social media, social media can also be very distracting. Never mind the plenitude of Facebook games – just spending time on researching, content creation and engaging (i.e. replying) across social media networks can cost one the entire day!

“How much time should I spend on social media? Am I spending too much time on social media?”

Do you ask those questions?

Many do. Small and big companies, groups and individuals alike – you’re not alone. Truth be told, there is never enough time on social media as there are always time for something on it. The trick is to know how much or how little is enough for your business – yes, time management even for social media.

Understanding the Components of Social Media

Social media in general consists of 3 important aspects that both businesses and individuals cannot overlook:

1. Listening

Perhaps one of the most powerful attribute of social media networks as it enabled businesses to find out what the consumer is talking about, their complains and suggestions – something unachievable back then.

I personally prefer to do this at the start of the day. It can comprise of looking at what your competitors are doing, looking up what your fans and followers are talking about, catching up with the latest news in the industry on various sites and etc.

2. Communicating / Engaging

communication and engagement on social media

Ah, the essence of social media networks – being social. What good it is if you’re part of a huge community (e.g. Facebook fan page) that does not communicate? This is where you take genuine interest in your followers and fans by talking NOT pitching to them.

This should take the bulk of your time on social media networks. This includes commenting on blogs, replying to messages and also content sharing. Remember, its not just about sharing your content but to share other quality content that you may find – tweet and retweet them, stumble them, like and share them on Facebook! Not only it grants you exposure, it opens up opportunities for you to expand your network within your industry.

I usually do this on the move with my phone – while waiting for the escalator, waiting for food to be served, at a long queue, waiting for a parking bay (some times this alone takes up to 30 mins!) and etc.

3. Content Creation

Creating content has never been easier with the help of blogging tools such as WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr and more. What’s great about creating your own content is that you’re able to position yourself as an industry expert, granting your brand more credibility compared to your competitors.

If writing isn’t exactly up your sleeves, try creating video clips, screen casts, infographics, podcasts or even post pictures of your work (especially for photographers) on networks such as YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Deviant Art and etc. Every content you create can be powerful when positioned using the right medium, even greater when combined with the first 2 aspects above!

What Determines the Amount of Time Spent?

how much time do i need to spend on social mediaNow, now.. I wished there was some kind of a success formula to social media: X hours x Y medium = AwesomeResults but there really isn’t. Having that said, I believe what determines the time spent for your social media network truly depends on your GOALS.

Yes, your GOALS – what do you want to achieve out of social media.

From there, you should be able to identify how much time should you spend on Listening, Communicating and Creating Content. For me, I spend about 2-3 hours daily on my networks on a busy day and here’s how I do it on a daily basis:

50% for Communicating and Engaging
25% for Listening
25% for Creating new Content

What do I achieve out of it? I know that as long I stick to my plan, I’ve covered the important aspects of social media, allowing me to achieve my goals AND YET have plenty of time for me to work on my projects with my clients. You can do that too!

Where Can We Go From Here?

1. Find out how much time are you spending on social media
2. Ask yourself: are what you’re doing in line with your goals?
3. Which of the 3 aspects are most important to you?
4. Establish a plan that you can follow on a daily basis encompassing all 3 aspects
5. Evaluate whether the plan works for you from time to time

Do you have a social media plan? I would love to hear what worked (and what did not) for you!

How Long Should Your Company Spend on Social Media in a Day?

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This question has been popping up quite a lot in my recent conversations with clients and friends alike – how much is too much and how do one estimate accordingly? Some companies swear by 1-hour daily while some go with 24-hours constant monitoring – is that really necessary?

The duration spent on social media defers from one to another and is dependent on 2 simple factors:

#1: The social media tools your company is using

Some tools require more time to monitor (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) compared to others (e.g. blogs) as tools such as Facebook has a lot more interactivity going on as compared to blogs. Also depending on the size of your network, you may need to spend more time replying to posts, @mentions and comments left by your followers or readers.

The more tools you use will definitely take up more time so be selective! Use only those that matters most for your business and concentrate on them first!

#2: What social media is used for (i.e. its intended purpose)

This goes all the way back to your company’s objectives in utilizing social media in the first place. Is it used to disseminate information? Is it used to promote your products / services? It is used to listen to what’s hot and not? It is used to engage with your customers? Is it used to attract new customers? Is it used to obtain feedback? Your reasons will determine how long you would want to spend on social media. If you’re just wanting to disseminate information, chances are, you’ll only need to spend time on content creation while if you’re there to listen to complains, you may want to play a more active role.

Be clear of what you want to achieve with social media networks as you won’t be able to do everything at one go especially if you’re new to it.

Closing Thoughts

As simple as it seems, most companies intend to dive into the sea of social media tools without first understanding what is required and whether it is really necessary. Not every business requires a blog and not every business have to be on Twitter.

Know your goals and no longer you’ll feel that time is never enough on social media. Know why you’re doing it and no longer you’ll feel that the results does not justify your time.

Coming up next: How to manage your time on social media?

Should Companies Ban Social Media Among Employees?

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should companies ban social media?

Recently I’ve been noticing more and more companies here in Malaysia putting a barrier around their employees, preventing them from accessing social media tools within the premise. While some go about a complete ban, some left room for the marketing department to roam about freely.

Is that a good move?

It is fully understandable that social media tools especially Facebook, Twitter and blogging can be a huge time waster at work. Employees may be playing games, chatting away or busy updating their personal blogs instead of being ‘productive’ at the workplace. It’s no wonder why companies have to resort to a complete ban.

However, it is also interesting to note that some of these companies are supposedly customer centric, saying that they listen to their customers and etc but at the same time, staying out of social media. Strange indeed.

Blogs (social media) doesn’t get people fired, people get people fired. – Deb Schultz, Altimeter Group

To me, social media should not be banned in a company at all. Instead, companies should establish clear guidelines on how social media can be used. Companies such as Dell takes social media very seriously and goes to the extend of training their employees in this area and they have been utmost successful.

IBM takes a different approach by allowing their employees to write their social media policy for them. Sounds absurd? Not really, considering the fact that since the employees will be the ones using social media, they should be the ones setting the guidelines. In fact, they are more likely to keep to it if they formed it themselves. Plus giving your employees this liberty may cultivate an innovative culture in your company.

Some companies don’t even have rules to regulate social media usage. They simply let their employees do what they like, as long they perform in the end.

So.. What’s the Conclusion?

There is really no hard and fast rule in implementing / regulating social media in a company. I really do prefer both Dell and IBM’s way of doing it but it also depends on your comfort level as a business owner in the industry. Remember, social media can act as both an asset and a liability to your brand. Experiment with techniques and find out what’s best for your environment – social media only works when you try.