In my working life I have seen the method of communicating within a business change several times. There was the telex (who can remember that?), then the wonders of the fax, next the convenience of email, then the effort of web pages, and now it is social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), and I doubt that it will end there. Each of these modes required unique and differing styles of presenting the information to be effective.
A business today cannot afford to be naïve and lack fluency in the language of social media.
As our constituency changes, we also need to change and learn to speak the language that most effectively connects with them. Thankfully there are resources available for this, and a recent survey of 500 NFP’s by the Case Foundation and Social Media for Nonprofits has come up with the top characteristics associated with effective social media use:
- Allocate at least 0.25 FTE to overseeing your social media presence;
- At a minimum, use your social media as a megaphone to announce activities and information;
- Best practice is to post thought-leadership content relevant to your organisations area(s) of interest.
The survey also aggregated the practices into the top 4 tips for your organisation to engage in social media effectively:
- Make it a conversation. End your posts with a question mark to stimulate engagement.
- Establish a calendar of content for posting so as to share the load of who posts.
- Use pictures. Attach photos or videos, especially of people.
- Be mobile. Ensure all your web presence is compatible with mobile devices.
As you navigate the new channels of engaging with your stakeholders, remember that help is available – find out how by contacting Warrick Long at the Avondale Business School.
P: 02 4980 2168