Communicators press ahead with social media

Less than a third of professional communicators surveyed feel confident about using social media as part of an integrated communication strategy, according to Melcrum's new report How to use social media to engage employees. Yet despite the lack of strategy understanding revealed by the global study, many are going ahead with setting up tools inside their organizations - some 60% of organizations will have some form of social media in place by the end of 2007.

The new report combines key findings from a global study into social media and corporate communication, with case-study examples and expert advice on how to develop a social media strategy, launch new tools - such as blogs, wikis, podcasts and social networks - and monitor their progress.


Potential pitfalls

The potential pitfalls of launching social media tools without an understanding of the best way to use them is covered in the "Strategy" chapter of the new report. Ross Chestney, head of communication services at BT - where he has overseen the introduction of blogs, wikis, podcasts and social networking - comments that: "There are an awful lot of people who are very excited about this technology, but still have no real idea what it's about."

In the same chapter, Philippe Borremans, IBM's new media lead in Europe, talks about the strategic mission for social media at IBM and urges practitioners to develop a different mindset and strategy when it comes to introducing new tools: "Your social media strategy must look unlike a traditional communication strategy. It's not an enforced strategy - full of campaigns and 'push' models.

"The first step in building a social media strategy is to recognize that it's not for every company or every employee," says Borremans, "I can't claim this is a natural fit for every company. It all stems from understanding what kind of company and culture you're working in. But for us, it's the right way to go."


Strategy issues to consider

Based on the experiences of organizations such as BT, IBM, American Electric Power (AEP) and Nortel, the report identifies 10 issues that communicators should consider when developing a social media strategy, including:

- Assess your organization's cultural readiness.
- Think about the business purpose of the tools.
- Be experimental and involve employees.
- Clarify what employees can and can't do.
- Take a hands-off approach to marketing the tools.


Key findings from global survey

In addition to advice on strategy, the report shares key findings that shed light on what communicators expect to gain from using social media inside the organization, and which tools they feel are most relevant to them.

According to the 2,100 corporate communicators who responded to the global survey, the top perceived benefits for implementing social media tools are:

1. Improved employee engagement (71%).
2. Improved internal collaboration (59%).
3. Improved internal community development (51%).
4. Improved two-way dialogue with senior executives (42%).


Engaging employees

A chapter is devoted to each of the tools considered most relevant to internal communicators: blogs, podcasts, RSS, online video, wikis, social networking and virtual worlds and the 3-D web.

Each chapter shares key findings from the global survey together with advice on how to introduce the tools and case-study examples of how they're being put to use to engage employees in organizations such as BT, IBM, Unilever, The World Bank, Scottish & Newcastle, Microsoft and Nortel.

The report ends with a chapter on measurement, which shares advice from practitioners and experts on how to monitor the progress and outcomes of social media tools.

On the road to New Orleans

On Saturday I will be in New Orleans for my first IABC international conference. I have three goals in mind: to discover new approaches that will influence the further growth of my business and invigorate my team, to encourage RBTT's communicators to join the local chapter and scout for speakers for our Chapter's first Communication Summit in 2008.

I will be blogging from my New Orleans Hotel room for the entire week. Look out for my daily musings from jazz city.