Everyone now-a-days is using social media, including businesses. Some businesses considered it a great asset and dove head first into the world of Twittering and LinkedIn profiles, while others consider it a nuisance and say it’s just a trend that will soon pass. Either way, there are some things businesses should know about social media.

  • Social media is here now, so you better do something. Generation Y is the biggest user of social media. Not only are they customers, but also your new and up-in-coming employees. There is a lot of information flowing out there on these networks — it is up to you to get a hold of it.
  • Don’t drop everything else and make SM your #1. Social media is just another form of communication and interacting with different audiences, but it shouldn’t be the primary way you communicate. Talking face-to-face or over the phone should still be your top gun.
  • Our boss uses Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. at work, why can’t I? It’s addictive, I’ll admit, and if employees have access to the Internet while they’re at work, chances are they are Facebook stalking and Twittering. Employers need to have rules when it comes to using SM at work.
  • Tell the truth or social media will out you. I am not saying everything said on Twitter is true, not even close. What I am trying to say is that if you lie, chances are someone somewhere will out you or your company. If you say your company does something and a customer has had a bad experience, they will let everyone else know about it, and most of the time they are not too nice about it.
  • Chances are social media is here to stay, so learn to be good at it. You might think all this social media business is just beyond you. Think of hiring a young 20-something tech savvy grad to manage your company’s social media. Regardless if you decide to go that route or not, you should personally learn this medium. Do you have a hobby? Blog about it, find Twitter users who have similar interests and ask them about how they use social media. You might find this social media thing is not really that far beyond you.

Originally article written by Lindsay Elias for the CR e-newsletter.