Sorting Out Social Networking
This is probably an unfair generalization. But for some of us over 30, it's been tempting to dismiss online social networking as the domain of teens and Millennials who hardly remember a time when they couldn't instantly share their every opinion, mood and mundane detail of their daily lives with everyone inhabiting their online universe.
But that's no longer the case, if it ever was. Social media sites have quickly become ubiquitous, and it's impossible to ignore their power to help users of all sorts communicate frequently and in real time with fellow users or members.
With millions viewing sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reading and/or writing blogs every day, it was only natural that these networks would eventually expand to include organizations and individuals looking for networking and marketing opportunities. Actually, those who aren't active on one or more such sites by now run the risk of appearing archaic in comparison to their competitors. And, hey, viral marketing opportunities via free social networks are a pretty attractive option considering the current economic climate.
At this stage of the game, the biggest challenge for professionals looking to utilize these sites may be figuring out how to best do so. As a business tool, social networking is still relatively new. There are no ground rules, or even loose guidelines, for successfully connecting your organization -- or yourself -- with your target audience through online social media.
Twitter is the social networking service de rigeur, of course. One of the 50 most popular Web sites worldwide, according to Web information company Alexa, the free social networking and micro-blogging service has skyrocketed in popularity.
Some shrewd executives have already embraced Twitter as a way to market their organizations, encourage collaboration among employees, compare notes with C-suite colleagues and engage customers, among other uses.
Are CIOs among the execs taking to Twitter? Chris Curran, a partner at Diamond Management & Technology Consultants and the firm's chief technology officer, recently attempted to answer that question.
On his Web site, http://www.ciodashboard.com/, Curran details his "frustrating journey" to link with fellow CIOs through Twitter. CIOs are indeed entering the Twitterverse, but finding them there can be difficult, Curran concluded, after sifting through "hundreds of Twitter-related sites and applications" in search of professional lists and communities for CIOs.
He also offered suggestions -- browsing Twitter directories, searching Twitter profiles for "CIO" -- to help CIOs track down their professional peers online.
Curran, like many others looking to plug in to online professional networks, recognizes the potential of these tools, but seems to still be getting a handle on how to most effectively utilize them.
Questions abound for executives entering the social networking fray: Which sites should I use? How many do I need to use? How much time should I spend in a day, or a week, on Tweeting, "Facebooking" or updating my LinkedIn profile?
Here at ADVANCE, we've been asking ourselves these same questions. Our publication is now on Facebook, (click here), as well as Twitter, (click here), and we see the obvious promise of social networking sites as a means to interact with our audience on a more direct, immediate level. But we also realize that our efforts to connect more closely with readers through these channels are wasted if you're not there with us. With that in mind, we'd like to pose a few questions of our own:
Do social networking sites have value for health care CIOs? Do you use them? If so, what sites do you use, and what do you use them for? And have you found them to be worth your while? Have any social media tips to share with your fellow CIOs? Use this forum to share your thoughts and tell us about your experiences in the ever-expanding world of online social networking.