Today, the terms "Social Media", "Social Networking", and "Social Marketing" are part of the business conversation. I have talked about in previous posts how I leveraged my network successfully to assist in my job search earlier this year. This could be considered the advent of "Social Recruiting" or "Social Hiring". This equates to leveraging information available through Search Engines and INgaging your network for additional resources and references.I use same techniques daily in my role as a professional sales person and really, "Advisor" to companies looking to enhance their social footprint. The information is available online to complete a picture of who a prospective company is and who may be the players I need to access to be successful. Can I identify gaps in their social strategy which my business solutions can be accessed for mutual success? If not, why I am I bothering them, because that is what I would be is a pest! Gone are the days of Arthur Miller's famous character, Willy Lowman, knocking on doors without an understanding of the needs of the consumer behind the keyhole. Cold calling just got harder and easier at the same time...depending on your tenacity. For me, the information available today makes for more robust first conversations and solid pipeline of people looking to make the journey to being more proactive in the social marketplace.
Translate this into an overall company strategy. How is your area leveraging social channels to improve how it performs? Is your R&D department harnessing the power of crowdsourcing to assist and vet new products and service enhancements? How is your HR department using the social realm to make better, faster, and cheaper hiring choices in the global war for talent? Is your Customer Care team listening and solving the challenges your customers are laying down for you on consumer social networking channels. How does this effect the corporate brand?
Understand, not only is there solid data that companies with women on there executive team are more profitable, companies that have mastered the social conversation with their constitutes are winning on the valuation side hands down. There is an solid ROI opportunity in every business from your local mortgage company to the Fortune 100. The offerings I represent mostly translate to mid to large corporations. However, there is value there beyond them. It is my task to find the missing piece and translate into a business solution. Leveraging the social channels helps me get smarter about the companies I choose to INgage with daily.
How are you using social applications to move your career and company forward?
