As with any part of your organization’s communications: if the use of the social media on the internet is not managed by you . . . then someone else will take charge.
Understanding how to monitor and influence what is said about your organization on the internet is another important piece in the foundation of any good communications strategy.
Many PR people tend to focus on large audiences first: newspaper readers and television viewers as an example. On the internet, it is important to be aware of little audiences because they can take an issue and turn it in to something very big . . . very quickly.
Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogging, chat rooms; nearly all aspects of the social media have become as important as the mainstream media in influencing the reputation of your organization. In a very tangible way, the social media has turned everyone into a reporter or a commentator. The primary difference between these so-called “citizen journalists” and the mainstream media is that they not accountable to anyone. Without a managed approach to the social media your organization may be ceding control of your message to these very active participants. In some cases, these participants may be your own employees. Rockford Gray can assist in the creation of corporate social media standards and then prepare your people to engage appropriately.
Rockford Gray provides strategic counsel and customized workshops on the use of the social media. Rockford Gray’s Social Media Workshop gives participants important background in how the conversation that takes place on the internet is moving the needle on the perception of your organization. The session includes several instructive components, including:
- Best practices for social media engagement
- Legal considerations
- Monitoring your social media presence
- How the traditional media participates
- Utilizing your existing messaging in an on-line atmosphere
- How to use the social media to your advantage in a crisis
The workshop also gives participants an interactive experience through exercises that include hands-on participation in creating appropriate responses on Twitter, Facebook, chat rooms or blogs. This portion of the workshop is conducted in real-time. The session is customized around real-world situations.
Contact Rockford Gray for a social media consultation and workshops.
