Social networking inside the company helps employees act appropriately on-brand outside
(image courtesy of M. Keefe via Flickr)
Tweeting, texting, posting , poking – we all know that social networking helps us keep in touch with what’s going on out there. It’s been my observation that many companies are using the same digital tactics and techniques to help its employees keep in touch with what’s going on in there – inside the organization, that is. As brands become increasingly “humanized” by digital technology that both connects everyone and makes everything transparent, smart companies are helping their employees better understand “who” their brand is, and what it represents to consumers by setting up internal social networking programs. To see how this works, and what leadership teams at Best Buy, Schwab, and Wells Fargo are doing, take a look at my
recent article in Forbes online.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I don’t think this comes as any big surprise to those of us who, all along, have seen the power of engaging employees at all levels in the strategic talk and priorities of the organization.
“Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” … That, to me, speaks to the power of social media inside an organization.
That said, I’ve seen social media tools used internally that don’t go far enough… that are simply megaphones for leadership… Sure, leadership can gather feedback. But if they’re not going to respond and participate in the discussion, the value of these platforms is negligible.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Companies are more aggressive now that they use social networking sites as their marketing strategy. It is no surprise if they would think of using it too inside their company’s premises as an internal communication tool.