Social media has tangible and sustainable business value as collaboration channels. When implemented effectively, it can result in greater sales, productivity and higher customer engagement. And when harnessed correctly social can transform the way your business works. So just how do you get everyone on board? Let’s take a look…

 

1. Make Social Collaboration Part Of Your Business Processes

To get employee buy-in you can start off by including social tools in your day-to-day work flows and processes. In this way you start building an internal social community whereby social tools are used to finish tasks and projects, to move things forward. Consider adopting a social dashboard or CRM with social integration.

 

2. Don’t Forget The Value Of Mobile

Modern professionals, at all organisational levels, are on the go and they love the latest technology and the most modern devices. When you are trying to select a social platform you should adopt should have features that support different platforms but which allows for a single point of contact for social networks, business apps, emails, feeds, calendars, instant messaging, meetings or whatever combination of these works well for your organization.

 

3. Build Social Culture- With Governance In Place

If you have read any stories about organisations failing at social transformation, it is highly likely that they did not have the necessary infrastructure in place. And in order to build a successful social platform you have got to empower your people with transparency, trust and the culture of sharing. Create the relevant guidelines or manual to help people feel comfortable when boundaries are in place.

 

4. Appoint Or Hire Social Media Job Titles

Consider hiring socially specific job roles to keep your organization at the fore of the latest trends and to enable you to analyse and strategise around social data.

 

5. Sociability Starts From The Top Down

If you want social to be part of your company culture, let the executives lead by example. Encourage leaders to adopt social communication, through blogs, newsletters and social channels, and the employees working with them can see first-hand how it is done.

 

6. Enablement

To get the support you need from your teams you need to share your social strategy with them. What is the business value of adopting social channels? Why is your company making the transformation? Can you provide answers to your employees’ questions about the appropriateness of different tools in specific situations?

 

7. Engagement And Motivation

Social tools allow employees to be more engaged and empowered in decision-making processes and in order to motivate them to participate, you should recognise and reward their efforts.

 

8. Reverse Mentorship Programmes

Perhaps your top level executives, who are more inclined to use traditional methods of communication, can learn more about social from frontline or junior staff who are more socially active or interested.

 

9. Create A Culture Of Brand Ambassadors

Allow employees to become the social and public “face” of the departments they are responsible for. Highlight staff members’ strengths and weaknesses and show how individuals are behind the dynamics of your company.

 

10. Metrics, Analysis And Strategy

Your organization will be monitoring the results of your social efforts for continuous improvement but your staff have valuable insights and feedback. Use it. Show your staff how their contributions matter and how their insights can be used to shape your strategy moving forward.