By: Sonnie Santos
Someone asked to clarify the difference of social web from social networking sites. I explained that social networking sites are part of social web, but the latter is larger because social web includes all web 2.0 applications . These include blogs like wordpress and blogspot, micro blogs like twitter,video sharing sites like youtube, photo sharing sites like flickr.
One of my passions is Social Web, proof to that are my several blogs and accounts in different social networking sites ha ha. Social web has brought positive results in my finances and career. [1] Modesty aside, I was offered an Asst. VP for HR position because a head hunter found my blog knitted to my linkedin account, and [2] I earned passive income thru ads, sponsorship and on-line purchases in one of my sites. Social web, used properly, like any tech tools can generate positive results.
Though I am for the use social web in the the enterprise, as an executive, I also witnessed how employees abuse the generosity of employers by their unrestricted use of social web to the point of affecting their productivity . This resulted to the outright blocking of social web in the office by some employers. Yes, social web can also hurt your reputation and brand.
Because of this, I developed a series of lectures about the subject to caution enthusiasts who dive in without thinking, and the reluctants, who think the social web thingy is just plainly waste of time and resources. Yes, social web presents both risks and opportunities, and we can avoid harm by proper education. Please find below the training modules I developed.
- Social Web Management: Defining The Rules Of Engagement
- Objective: To equip HR, Line Managers and Entrepreneurs on setting up corporate philosophy and online policy in relation to [1] internet usage in the office [2] use of social web
- Target group: HR Practitioners, Line Managers, Micro Entrepreneurs
- Rationale: Blocking social web access is counter productive, regulating it’s use to avoid waste of resources and company time, is better
- Protect Your Brand: Use Social Web Responsibly
- Objective: [1] To ensure that your corporate and personal brand will not be damaged because of employees improper use of social web [2] To educate social web users how to protect their privacy and their connections/friends
- Target group: All social web users
- Rationale: Corporate and personal brands were often damaged out of ignorance on the dangers of social web.
- Push Your Brand: Social Web Marketing
- Objective: To empower micro entrepreneurs and professionals to use the cheapest available medium in marketing, the social web.
- Target group: Micro Entrepreneurs, Social Web Users, Operations, Sales and Marketing Managers
- Rationale: 24 M Pinoys are internet users, and the same people have the means to avail your products and services. Engage them.
- HR 2.0: Social Web In HR Operations
- Objective: To equip HR practitioners in using social web for recruitment, training, employee engagement, corporate communications,
- Target group: HR Practitioners, Micro Entrepreneurs
- Rationale: HR can make some of it’s job cool and easier with the advent of social web.
I conducted the 1st part of the series for 3 times in two weeks and the response was heartwarming. My theory was somehow proven correct that most companies run by baby boomers are not in step with the social web advancement. My HR participants agree that policies need to be upgraded and online philosophy to be clarified to address issues on internet access and social web users. Line managers and operations peeps, on the other hand would like to learn how to use this for marketing. An IT guy was also in attendance is hoping this session will bring HR to the same page as they are in terms of this.
Another item that business leaders and HRD should consider is employee retention. The Y Generation, which comprise majority of our workforce are into social web. If they are holding key position, or you are preparing them for next level, but your online philosophy and company culture in not meeting their needs [access of social web 24/7 is one of these], they will move to another company. Engage your Y gen employees properly and they will stay on the fold.