Social Media Reputation
Social media
has become an important channel for customer service and feedback. Companies
use it to their advantage in order to excel.
There is a
risk that companies take when they ignore the true benefits of social media. They
risk their reputation and sales. According to the Zeno Group, Inc. communications firm’s
research, about 71% of executives at larger companies say their CEOs consider
their company’s social media reputation when they conduct business. It’s essential
during decision-making to large corporations. As mentioned in my previous post, Preparation for Social Media Disaster,
company’s react fast to a damaging article or social media post. There’s a rule
of thumb to never let any negative comments go unanswered.
You must not
ignore your social media reputation as it might hurt you in the future. You must
make sure you have a positive presence on social media and monitor and respond
accordingly. Your reputation depends on it; you might even gain some important
business insight.
Social Media Attracts Good Employees
Social media
reputation goes a long way. It attracts good employees. The attitude of a company’s
twitter or Facebook can definitely influence people’s perception. It’s important that the corporate mission
statement is clear through the company’s social media practices and beliefs. Personally,
the company’s online reputation matters as much as the job offers. Social media
plays a vital role in the candidate’s view of the company.
The posts,
tweets, photos, and company events reflect what’s happening internally. If employees
are satisfied with the online reputation then they should be happy within their
work environment.
For instance,
Goggle is advertised through many social media platforms as a “A Place to Work
and Play”.
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| A place of play indeed, the above slide is connected to the 1st and 2nd floor |
Other companies
compliment on Google’s culture and workplace norms.
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| The above tweet expresses how others view Google |
Company culture
is also important. Social media portrays the culture of the company through its
post. That can be the deciding factor in choosing one company over another. Respondents
must be effective at communicating its corporate mission, goals, and beliefs,
as we seen with Google. Overall, a strong social media program and a good
company culture are ways to easily attract employees.
Universities Joined the Bandwagon
Colleges are
now creating applications that inform students that they have been “Accepted”. You
no longer have your typical e-mail or letter in the mail. You don’t even have
to log into your computer and visit the admissions website; instead you can
access it immediately from your phone.
The University
of Georgia has an app that has been downloaded more than 700,000 times. This is
a prime example how technology adapts to the time. Students who are applying
for colleges now spend so much time on their phone. They made it easier for the
applicants to stay updated with any/all campus notifications.
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| University of Georgia Application |
This app is
to be relatable and relevant in today’s communication environment. According to a study by the Center of
Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 90% of admissions
officers say their investment in social media efforts has produced positive
results.
Universities
use social media to reach out to potential and current students. You may
already see universities utilizing platforms such as: Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, and Spotify. It’s as simple as launching a
Facebook page and watch the quantity of applications come in.
Each college
has different approaches to online recruiting. I find it interesting that
Morehouse College has “Morehouse Monday’s”, where perspective students can use
Facebook’s group chat feature to talk with everyone from financial aid
officials to the schools presidents in real time.
All is in an
attempt to broaden the schools brand and image. Students who are looking for an
authentic perspective on a school they can easily access a Facebook or Twitter
account. Social media platforms are well established tools for student
engagement.
Social Media Changing Disaster
Response
When cell phone service is unavailable, Facebook
is the next thing. Pages were created in the aftermath of several natural
disasters in hope to raise awareness and funds for families and people in need.
Two weeks after a storm, a Facebook page would have about 6,500 “likes” and
would still grow every day. Facebook pages are the quickest way to
get information, as survivors and their relatives relied on social media as
they have once leaned on Red Cross. The biggest part of using social media is
not only about receiving help from the government but from the public as well.
Prior to these platforms you were left trying to figure out what you needed and
now the need is quickly met. Social media is the primary source of
communication following many natural disasters.
Social media
platforms can be used to inform a specific area of a storm warning or any other
weather alert, for instance,
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| This tweet is informing people of breaking weather news |
Social media
is made for social interaction and is highly accessible. Companies, universities,
politicians and many more use social media as a mean to communicate to
consumers, employees, potential employers and voters. They use it to create,
share, and exchange information and ideas virtually.
what do you think social media will be used for in the near future?
