What are the Social Media Roadblocks for Companies?

December 4, 2009

FlasherSeth Godin hits the nail on the head in reference to using the Web and social media for your business:

The problem is no longer budget. The problem is no longer access to tools.

The problem is the will to get good at it.

There also remains a very pervasive fear within companies (especially at the C-level) to opening up. I recently said to someone, “It’s time to expose yourself under that kimono.” We’ll see if I get that project or not… *smile*

Unfortunately, too many mid-level and junior-level employees are forced to spend a disproportionate amount of their time figuring out how to justify things to their bosses and how to create corporate policies that will calm executives’ nerves. If your company needs to spend a year developing appropriate, legally-binding, bullet-proof, fully documented corporate social media policies before someone at your organization can get on Twitter and say, “hi!” … you’re f-cked.

image courtesy of shutterstock

P.S. That’s not me in the picture…

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Comments
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  • roypaeth
    I think companies are still trying to figure out how to take advantage of social media while avoiding some the negative effecst that bad social media can have.

    Roy Paeth
  • It can be incredibly difficult to convince the top guns to implement a social media plan, but from all accounts the majority of businesses when polled say they are going to increase their social media budget in 2010. I guess it is up to us to uncover how social media (and social networking) can truly impact the bottom line.
  • Agreed. And I think we are seeing real ROI emerge. Dell claims to have sold $6.5M worth of stuff through their use of Twitter. That's not even moving the needle significantly at Dell, but it's still pretty damn incredible.
  • Social Media is the way to go these days in terms of marketing. Social media can be very effective and profitable if properly used.
  • FapTurboJames
    With the way the social media revolution is going, companies may be forced to integrate it into their marketing strategies.
  • Yes.. that's not you in the picture ;)
    I love your word about “It’s time to expose yourself under that kimono.”
  • Mia
    It's very interesting how the internet community and social networks have taken off recently. I love seeing the creative ways in which businesses are using facebook, twitter and youtube to promote their services.
  • Sorry for translation:)
    be fully documented policy of corporate social media before anyone in your organization
    Well sure it makes sense? otherwise it may risk
  • être entièrement documenté les politiques sociales des entreprises des médias avant que quelqu'un dans votre organisation
    Bien sure c'est logique ? sinon cela peut risquer
  • I love this one!

    It is true, yes there are many ways social media can hurt a company's reputation and brand name through incorrect use. But, these mid-level and junior-level employees have the most experience using social media and can help a company get through the hurdles to make it a beneficial tool for the corporation.
  • repoboats
    True, but eventually companies will be forced to fully integrate social
    media into their marketing because of their mainstream acceptance.
  • Absolutely. There may be some instances where social media isn't appropriate, and that's OK too - first, companies have to be willing to jump in (or dip a toe in) and then they have to go and assess what's worth doing. Not focusing on trends for the sake of trends, but focusing on what can generate results (once they know what results they want.)
  • I enjoyed this post. It's true that it is very difficult for bosses to understand why you have to spend time on a social media. But i believe it is a forum to even get to make new relations and advertise your products and services to others.
  • Agreed, the social media debate has just brought to a head a trend that has been going on for years.
    Everyone is so productivity focused that actually talking to customers- chatting so to speak has become frowned on. Everyone is measured on how long a call takes. Why because we now run so lean, that we have to hurry to the next call etc.

    Chatting and building a relationship is frowned on - its seen as unproductive time. And that is what social media is - chatting to build relationships.

    Lucky corporations have marketing departments skilled in TELLING customers how we want a relationship with them (lol).

    So no wonder mid level executives struggle to get their arguments up.
  • Exactly, companies that get steeped into the bureaucratic mire of social media rules for their employees will be in everyone elses rear view mirror.
  • Loved this post. Have always had issues with social bookmarking sites.
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