Social Media Going Corporate
November 7, 2009
Well, it seems like the Mainstream Media are catching on to what we who work the social media have known for awhile. Businesses are getting on board with the realities of a Social Web.
The November 7, 2009 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle has an article “Social sites invade corporate culture” discussing how corporate attitudes about social media are shifting.
Written by Benny Evangelista, the article talks about Comcast’s big shift in attitude brought on by one employee’s using his own Twitter account to respond to customers tweeting about service issues. The employee, Frank Eliason, now heads a staff of 11 who monitor social networks, offering help to customers.
The article quotes Comcast’s CEO Brian Roberts who says that their Twitter strategy has helped change their corporate culture “from inside the organization, not just top down.”
Twitter Business Example Series (Week 2)
July 13, 2009
**Update: follow this series using #TwitterBizEx hashtag.
This week’s series (which lasted two weeks since my vacation fell in the middle) had a local-food-and-drink-business theme. Most of my examples ended up being restaurants, and all seemed to be using Twitter in similar ways in hopes of pulling in new customers and developing a following of fans. Here is a list of the companies that I reviewed:
Mon 6.29: @numitea
(Numi Tea: http://www.numitea.com/)
Wed 7.1: @penelopeoakland and @grandlake
(Penelope Bar/Café: http://penelopeoakland.com/)
(Grand Lake Theatre: http://renaissancerialto.com/)
Thurs 7.2: @yoshisjazz
(Yoshi’s Sushi and Jazz Club: http://www.yoshis.com/)
Fri 7.3: @olivetojournal
(Oliveto Restaurant: http://www.oliveto.com/)
Wed 7.8: @vosrestaurant
(Vo’s Vietnamese: http://vosrestaurant.com/)
Thurs 7.9: @acoterestaurant
(A Cote: http://www.acoterestaurant.com/)
Twitter Business Example Series (Week 1)
June 26, 2009
Why does it matter how other businesses are using social media?
By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter. -Confucius
I was inspired to do some research, observing how small businesses use Twitter and other social networks, after hearing too many examples and case studies of how big companies with recognizable names are leveraging their large existing consumer audiences to grow fan bases on social networks.
What about the little guys? Using examples of brands like Victoria’s Secret, Dell, and Patagonia, when pitching (or defending) social media marketing can’t possibly be relevant to the majority of businesses who are trying to decide if this new marketing paradigm is worth the time, energy, and, of course, the money.
**Update: You can now follow this Twitter Business Example Series on Twitter by searching for the #TwitterBizEx hashtag!