Rules of engagement

Virgin Media said 32% of UK companies on social media this month

Mashable says 78% of business users have Twitter, 75% Facebook but 30% LinkedIn

Facebook is the biggest driver to websites

This ‘third of small business was being reported last year by Daryl Wilcox Publishing.

January 2010, Reuters and others were reporting that SMEs were the next big thing in social media after University of Maryland reported a 100% increase from 12% to 24% in SMEs.

…so what’s gone wrong?

• Marketing basics – it counts on your website/Facebook page/Tweets/whatever too!

• Why are you telling everyone this stuff – contrary to what Robert Scoble says, the fact that I know you doesn’t mean I want to know what you had for breakfast!

• Reproducing clippings – is that always allowed?

• A blog is for life, not just for Christmas• What will it say? How often?• Moderation:

* Spamming* Negativity* Advertising other services

• Ofcom: 50 per cent of social media users over 35• Young people actually seem to be abandoning it

• Do you?• Should you?• Outcomes?• Horror stories: The airline…

• The satnav people• The commenters• The phonies

• Decision makers?• Communications people?• Juniors?

• Corporate comms• Spell checker!• Part of your messaging strategy

• Clauses about bringing employers into disrepute apply online!

• What does your company/client’s social media policy say?

• Colleagues must understand staff policy can apply to personal as well as corporate blog/Twitter/Facebook

• Announcements (often overdone)• Status reports• Customer management

• Seek new ‘followers’ for the sake of it• Treat the social media interchangeably –

Facebookers will expect fewer updates than Twitter users

• Overt promotion – see the Moonfruit example

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