2. Social Business
The term “Social Business” describes the permeation of
social technologies through all aspects of a business:
• From external to internal communications and
knowledge sharing
• From employees communicating and working with each other, with
partners and customers from innovation management to customer support
A truly social business embraces social technologies
on all levels
• To boost employee and customer satisfaction
• To improve work flows, processes and knowledge sharing
• To remain an attractive employer in the future
3. Some Numbers
More than
1.5 Billion users of
social networks
70% of all companies
worldwide already use
one form of social
technology, 90% of those
give positive feedback
Knowledge workers
spend 28 hours per week
with emails, searching for
information and
collaboration
4. 8 Steps to Social Business Success
1. efine the WHY
D
2. ake it a culture thing
M
3. eading by example
L
4. reate a social governance model
C
5. ecide on the right tools
D
6. ive Internal Communications the social overhaul
G
7. nable the people (especially your CEO)
E
8. how your employees you mean (social) business
S
5. Define the WHY
What goals do you want to reach?
• Improved productivity
• Improved employee satisfaction
• More efficient editorial processes for internal and external communications
• Improved customer support and customer satisfaction
6. Make it a culture thing
Social technologies require a certain mindset to unlock their full potential.
Often their rollout is more of a change management than sole IT project.
You have to make sure your company culture is compatible with what you‘re
trying to achieve.
7. Leading by example
For your company to really take off as a social business, you need everyone
on board. That includes the base as well as your top management.
Make sure you have your full management support and that your CEO and
top management are leading by example.
8. Create a social governance model
A truly social business is one that embraces social technologies on all levels.
You need to create a social governance model that integrates all these
different areas and formulates a
holistic social strategy for your company.
9. Decide on the right tools
Which tools to use depends on what you want to achieve
and where your company stands technologically.
It‘s important to thorougly test before you buy and
make sure to involve all parties in the decision.
10. Give Internal Communications
the social overhaul
Internal communications is the lighthouse function within
your company that can make or break the adaptation of
your social business strategy.
Within a social business, the internal communications function shifts more
towards management than sole editor
of internal news. So make your internal communications
fit for social.
11. Enable the people
(especially your CEO)
While most of your employees will use a social network in their private lives,
you still need to educate and enable
them on how they should use social technologies for the benefit of your
company.
That means training sessions for everyone, first and
foremost your top management.
12. Show your employees you mean
(social) business
Actions speak louder than words: Show your employees that your social
business strategy is here to stay.
Make sure you shift important processes and information to the new
technologies.
There‘s an uncomfortable topic that needs communicating? Have your CEO
available for a truly social live Q&A session on your social platform rather
than send out an email.
