Listen, Engage, Encourage - Tips For Integrating Social Media

I just love this post from SmartBlog and I think it deserves some attention! Here's a bit of the article. Click here for the full article!

On Twitter, word spreads like wildfire, and companies no longer have the option of ignoring the conversation. The paradigm shift from broadcast to direct communication via social networks has changed the way PR professionals, marketers and customer service teams work. As social media evolves, it’s becoming a vital and vibrant way for professionals to stay in touch with colleagues, suppliers and partners — and not just for communications purposes but for product development, innovation and more.

Here are three tips for getting started on integrating social media into your business operations:

• Listen first. Learn from what your customers are saying to establish your baseline.

• Engage employees internally through social media. Use blogs, Yammer or company-specific social tools to get people used to and excited about the platforms.

• Encourage employees to set up social media accounts. As you know, social media is addictive!  Once people try it, not only will they be itching for more, they’ll be coming up with ideas for how it can benefit their team.