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Are you on line yet? According to DJ Heckes, CEO of EXHIB-IT! Tradeshow Marketing Experts covers the pros and cons of 3 major social media sites:

LINKED IN:

Pros: 1.Good place to sniff out potential client contacts. Request (and offer!) introductions when it makes sense. 2. Join groups that are of interest; can share best practices, ask advice, share resources or have conversations with similar companies or individuals.

Cons: 1. Networking is not automatic – you’ll need to proactively use this tool for it to be effective for you. 2. Most of the groups do not allow solicitations; be sure to read the rules of engagement carefully and make sure you’re in the group that makes sense for you.

FACEBOOK:

Pros: 1. More personal than business, but works well for “social” businesses such as casinos, entertainment venues, consumer companies. 2. The softer side of business for people that are comfortable crossing personal and work relationships. 3. Companies can communicate with “fans” that have opted in for their updates.

Cons: 1. Hard advertising is discouraged, so if that’s your intent, this is not your venue – you’re likely to lose fans with a hard-core sales approach.

TWITTER:

Pros: 1. Social media’s #1 attention-getter. People cannot resist checking out the latest “tweet”. 2. They’ve chosen to follow you (or you’ve chosen to follow them), so again, an Opt-in situation to communicate with your audience. 3. Great medium for quick referrals and to share bits of information.

Cons: 1. Jury is still out on whether Twitter will have longevity. Some believe it’s popular today but will be replaced by the next big thing in a nanosecond. 2. It’s habit-forming and can be a time-waster if left unchecked.

Source: Wearables Magazine, Jan 2010 For a White Paper discussing Social Media vs. Management, click here.

Top 5 Do’s:

1. Put important info in bold so it’s easier to see.
   
   
2. If action is required, say so at the beginning of the e-mail.
   
   
3. Keep your signature short and professional. Lose the pithy quote and just include your title and phone number.
   
   
4. Keep the subject line relevant.
   
   
5. Proof your e-mail before you send it – including spell check!

Top 5 Don’ts:

1. Don’t type in ALL CAPS even to get someone’s attention – put it in bold instead.
   
   
2. Don’t include your entire team or your boss on every e-mail you send – be selective.
   
   
3. Don’t send large attachments unless absolutely necessary, especially to a distribution list. When possible, upload files to a shared site and provide a link.
   
   
4. Don’t’ send e-mail when you’re emotional. Keep it in a drafts folder until you can review with a cooler head.
   
   
5. Don’t try to be funny, especially to a mixed audience. The odds of being misunderstood are astronomical.

Source: SalesForce XP – Jan/Feb 2010 issue.

Recommended Reading:
The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success , by Lon Safko & David K. Brake

Virtually every business can use social media to increase sales and profits, and The Social Media Bible will show you how. Part One introduces you to social media, and gives you a helpful framework, and presents practical and tactical tips for using some of these tools. Part Two introduces you to over 100 social media tools and applications in fifteen different categories, giving you a quick rundown of the features and functions of the tools that should become part of your social media strategy. Part Three offers mini exercises and assessments to help you conduct a social media audit of your company, your competition, and your customers, so you can craft the perfect strategy for your business.

If you want to grow your business, you have to stay connected to your stakeholders- whether you're a big corporation, a small business, or even a nonprofit. The Social Media Bible will show you how to harness the collective wisdom and viral value of your stakeholders and stay ahead of your competition.

Washington Update

Employees are eight times more likely to be engaged in their work when their employers make wellness a priority, according to a white paper from Right Management, a subsidiary of Manpower Inc. The study also found that:

• An organization is four times more likely to lose talent if its employees have an unfavorable view of its wellness efforts.
  
  
• When wellness is a priority, employees are 3.5 times more likely to say they are being encouraged to be creative and innovative.

“The strongest organizations are going to be the ones that attract, engage and retain top talent,” says David Arkless, Manpower’s president of corporate and government affairs. “Wellness in the workplace is central to an organization’s survival. Companies, governments and the like will need to revisit their strategies to ensure that workplace wellness is woven into their plans, as the organizations that don’t will struggle to remain competitive.”

The white paper, “The Wellness Imperative: Creating More Effective Organizations,” is available at www.manpower.com/research/research.cfm.

2010 Design incentives, Inc.