As a busy CEO, do you find the time to tweet, blog, and update your Facebook status?

CatchFriday, a self-proclaimed “virtual personal assistant” service, argues that even if you do, it’s sporadic at best, and not the best use of your time. Their recent press release, “Why CEOs Are Better Off Outsourcing Social Media Tasks,” describes a CEO who, in neglect of social media persona, must focus on his other “important tasks in the workplace.” They continue to describe the ROI of outsourcing tweets and blogs, having a virtual assistant or copywriter create good content for your online presence.

Where, may I ask, is the marketing department? And if the persona of the individual CEO is valued, then genuine updates are important (see Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsiesh), not those from a  hired copywriter. CatchFriday may have a use, but look within your company for a solution first.

The SSN Take: Social media relies on honest, open dialogue, so be wary of having others write as you or your brand.

Samuel Hartman, March 22, 2010

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The Next Web’s recent article, “The Social Media Cheat Sheet,” features an easy-to-read PDF with color-coordinated ratings of the top social media websites, created by the marketing gurus at CMO.com.

The sheet details various social media sites and how well they can be used for customer communication, brand exposure, upping site traffic, and SEO. At the top of the list? Twitter, of course, allowing instant interaction and exposure for anything, as well as re-tweeting links and sending traffic your way. YouTube and Facebook rank high, along with Digg, though McLellan cautions that the site’s user-driven rating system eschews any perceived commercial content. “Buzzing up” through Yahoo!’s new service, along with the lo-fi Reddit don’t get high marks in any category, but this doesn’t mean they can’t be utilized by your company, you just need to know your audience. Social bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon and Del.ici.ous are listed with some value, too.

The SSN Take: Diversification in the social media landscape is a good thing; utilize each site’s strengths.

Sam Hartman, March 20, 2010

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During the Winter Olympics, the Uni-ball pen company directed fans to its Facebook Page for free pen giveaway.

Nowhere in the ad was a “dot-com URL” mentioned, a link to Uni-ball’s website – Facebook was given all the glory. This and other examples are given in the recent Forbes article, “Brands Hype Social Network Presence.” A “social media land grab,” as it’s put, does come with its risks: those savvy in social media might see a corporate presence as cheesy; a “lame attempt to be cool and hip.” Worse, many companies merely expend the effort to exist on these platforms, without following through – no customer interaction and relentless, boring advertising. It’s this social dialogue that is crucial to using the existing networks (“where people congregate”) to sell product and promote brands. “If I were a dot-com URL,” writes the author, “I wouldn’t write my will just yet.”

The SSN Take: A balanced approach of an informative website, and a social media presence, can cover all bases.

Samuel Hartman, March 19, 2010

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Being motivated to exercise is tough, but what if each mile you ran, swam, or biked raised money for charity?

This is the idea behind the Plus 3 Network, a GPS-enhanced social media website that rewards users for logging exercise by pairing them with companies willing to donate per mile or hour to a certain charitable cause. The twist is that by using approved GPS devices, users uploading their data to the site receive higher rates, in a sense “validating” their workout. The site itself acts as a budding social network, allowing users to share workouts, routes, and compare rewards earned for their exercise and fitness. Creating events and adding friends adds to the motivation of getting fit and being health for a good cause, whether it is World Bicycle Relief or the Nevada Cancer Institute – two beneficiaries on the site. Plus 3 Network, as they put it, turns “sweat equity into social capital.”

The SSN Take: Plus 3 Network illustrates the power of social media to do good.

Samuel Hartman, March 18, 2010

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A recent TMCNet article, “Posting problems: Social Web sites create issues for employers, employees” discusses the ongoing battle employers face as their workers stream onto social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.

But a more complex issue is employees posting things from home, not realizing the multitude of people they might be sharing the info with. The dilemma of “off-duty conduct” is classically addressed with a confidentiality agreement, guarding employees from sharing proprietary company information. But if an update from a employee conflicts with the company’s image, it’s time for that employer to begin to develop policies to understand and deal with social media issues.

At the same time, to those of you tweeting away at work: be thoughtful, considerate, and follow a old maxim regarding most things: “don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mother to read.” While many firms encourage social collaboration, do so professionally.

The SSN Take: Keep it simple – don’t befriend your co-workers, and never, ever, your boss, on social networking sites.

Samuel Hartman, March 17, 2010

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A quick look at Morton’s The Steakhouse Facebook page sets the theme for the company’s social media engagement: vast.

As “Morton’s Makes the Most of Social Media” discusses, the company takes a multi-pronged approach to social media, trying to  keep it “organic and not make it too mechanical,” says their senior VP of marketing and communications. The interview highlights several excellent uses: a Burgers for Bloggers event, bringing in online food critics; “Tweet-ups” at various locations, allowing customers to review food mid-dine; and the company’s expansive Facebook page with user-contributed photos, reviews, and a host of featured events by the chain. Integral to their plan is bringing footage of all these fun events into YouTube, enticing potential diners to visit the restaurant.

Morton’s claims they were the “first high-end steakhouse company to dive in to social media,” and attributes the continued success of that to simply listening to their guests.

The SSN Take: Follow  Morton’s example and integrate social media sites into your company’s new marketing plan.

Samuel Hartman, March 16, 2010

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Quick: which social media demographic uses Facebook more – men or women?

The 18-34 crowd, or the 35-54 one? Statistics like these, while sometimes overwhelming, can be useful to companies targeting specific sectors on social networks, and the National Retail Federation has recently released a ten-page RAMA 2010 Social Media Research report highlighting valuable information about the U.S. demographics of social media usage. Pest Control Technology’s summary, “New Research Sheds Light on Social Media Use” grabs some of the top findings: in the social media realm, women regularly log-in to Facebook more than men, but more men prefer cell phone use after a product search to discuss the findings with their buddies. Not surprisingly, users prefer to give product advice via networks rather than receive it, and Facebook beats out all other social media sites like MySpace or Twitter, for total usage. The full report also discusses face-to-face interaction and its effect on social conversations online.

The SSN Take: Take a quick scan of the report for some relevant data pertaining to your target audience.

Samuel Hartman, March 15, 2010

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