From your internal social learning management system (LMS) to how you reach your market externally, businesses need to leverage available social media resources to remain competitive in today’s market.
But, how to do so and the value of doing so are still questions that need to be overcome in many organizations. But, there are two sides to this question: internal and external application.
Internal Social Media and Networking
Let’ start with using social media internally. The addition of learning management with social media & networking tools is now called ‘Social Learning‘. This term covers a lot of ground and can be incredibly powerful if used correctly within an organization.
To see the value of social learning, see this article.
Social learning tools include technology to house, manage and track training content, and even become a repository for knowledge based on the experience and best practices of your employee base, also known as informal knowledge. Learning management systems have existed for some time and have become somewhat standard. It is the correct application of social learning tools now available (aptly named Social Learning Management Systems) that is the game changer.
Plus, it all of this takes place in a secure, protected environment branded to reflect your message. All of the benefits of Facebook; without the risk of sharing sensitive information to the wrong people.These social learning management systems (TOPYX social LMS, for example) provide easy, fully hosted access to communities for targeted groups, departments or can span an organization to share ideas and digital resources like never before. Profiles exists to help your employees interact (and can even attach to external social networking sites). Course and materials become discussion points. And, most importantly, these system are design to keep people engaged and coming back for more.
Add up these features plus traditional learning management benefits (reporting, learning paths, branding, multimedia – SCORM certified – players, even eCommerce tools), and you have a compelling value proposition that can make a difference in you organization today.
Now, let’s jump to external social media usage to help you reach a larger market.
External Social Media
The world gets smaller everyday with how easy it has become to reach the masses with your unique message. This can be done by turning to the popular social media outlets to position your business to the masses.
There are many benefits to taking the plunge: low cost v. reach, easy to develop new content, low administration costs, feedback channel opportunities, etc.
There are many more as well, but how do you get started? If you are ready to seriously start using social media as a pivotal channel for your organization, check out some of the basics that Dan Shapero, ClikCloud, CRN put together.
This is a good place to start. Read the full article.
Separate the company’s social presence from your personal one
Focus on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter, make sure you set up a company page on all of these sites.
Integrate social media with your other marketing programs
If you are hosting a “lunch and learn” on fixed priced IT at your office or conducting a webinar on cloud computing make sure you promote the event across your social networks in addition to other promotional activity, such as, email marketing, direct mail and telemarketing.
Tag your posts
Tagging is a great way to get your posts out to a broader audience. For Twitter use #vendor. Your post will reach followers of that vendor near and far. You may pick up a follower or two yourself.
Blog with frequency and intent
Blogging is a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader in front of your clients and prospects. Blogging helps keep your website looking current. In addition, well written blog articles help you with your SEO.
Build a fan base
Engage your customers to contribute to your social media platforms. Don’t be afraid to ask happy customers to share their testimonials about your company and service on your company’s Facebook page.
Post video when possible
YouTube is one of the largest search engines based on volume of queries. Creating video content is another outlet to reach a broader market.
Remember to Pay Per Click
Facebook and LinkedIn have pay per click programs similar to Google Adwords. Google ads are displayed when someone searches a particular keyword. Unlike Google, Facebook and Linkedin ads target your ads to the demographics and interests of your prospective customers.
Track everything, always
As with all marketing activity you need to track your activities so you can direct your time and money at those programs that deliver the most revenue and end those programs that underperform.
Don’t put your eggs in one basket
Social Media is mainstream. 800,000,000 people will not unplug from Facebook overnight. Social networks like Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter provide a powerful platform to get your message out.
It is time to act. Social media is here to stay. You have an opportunity to bring significant benefits in-house with a social learning management system and to start branching out to the markets available through the major social networking sites.
If you need more information regarding how a social learning management system can benefit your organization, request a free, personal LMS demo of TOPYX. That way, you can get the information you need to make a knowledgeable decision about how social learning with help you reach you goals.
To learn more about getting started with social media campaigns for your business, see the full article I summarized above by Dan Shapero of ClikCloud. There are other great resources online to get you moving in the right direction – just a Google search away.
What are your thought on social media?
Jeffrey A. Roth
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Jeffrey.Roth@Interactyx.com
Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com
