Corporate Social Media Use

The initial design of my companies' Social Media campaign included much research on how other companies are using SM. One of the most surprising things I found was that there are TONS of companies benefitting from a Social Media campaign of some form or another, especially the larger and more powerful companies. Hmm… they must know something!

Companies can use Social Media sites such as FaceBook™, Twitter™, Digg™, etc… for a variety of valuable practices. Common uses include community outreach, recruiting by posting jobs, general company information like news releases, and inner company connectivity through employee interaction. A great example is IBM’s company FaceBook™ Fan Page. This Fan Page has almost 20,000 fans - many of them are current and past IBM employees! The ability to bring together a company that is worldwide, which has thousands of employees, is now possible through an exciting Social Medium (get it!).

This doesn’t apply only to large companies though, this is for all companies. I can’t think of very many other initiatives that can reach a near infinite ROI. After all, what is the investment? A couple of hours a week of a Social Media savvy employee? If your company Twitter™ update or your company blog that has shown up on StumbleUpon™ sparks just one call that leads to one piece of business – BOOM, initiative paid for! Even if it does not evoke outside business, the ability to bring your employees together and inspire discussion among the talent which drives your company is infinitely valuable as well.

There is just very little downside when your Social Media leadership is responsible, efficient, and relevant.


- Matthew Taylor

Twitter: @mtaylord