Developing a Social Media Plan

Written by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

A social media plan is becoming a part of large corporations and organizations’ strategic planning to economic positioning in the marketplace, to gain competitive advantage. Their strategy goes beyond meeting a local market; it extends to a wider international market. It is very global in its reach.


Larger corporations who are thinking about integrating social media into their design plan to achieve their goals have several questions that they must address in order to find the right solution to the adoption of social media.


Some questions that must be asked are as follows:

1. Should social media be a part of our computer technology plan or a part of our marketing and branding plan?
2. Should our social media plan be organization-focused or employee-focused?
3. Should each department be responsible for its social media needs?
4. Should a decentralized-approach be used or should a centralized-approach governed by a social media unit be utilized to introduce a social media plan within the organization?
5. Should a social media plan be a part of the IT Unit - - an approach used by some companies and organizations as they became technologically prepared in the 90s?
6. How should decisions be made regarding introducing a social media plan?
7. Should a collaborative approach to decision-making be used where employee representatives from across the organization is a part or should be it only involve upper management?
8. Which social media technology should we adopt that would best meet our needs?
9. Who should be prepared to used the new technology?
10. Should training be a part of the design plan to introduce social media?
11. Would all the employees’ be users of social media or only a selected few?
12. Would there be resistance to this new change? How should these issues be addressed?
13. Should new recruits be considered? Should a new recruitment strategy be instituted to find suitable candidates?
14. How much will it cost to introduce social media into our existing technology plans?

These are some questions that large corporation should be thinking about as they think about introducing social media into their marketing and branding strategy. I hope that these were helpful in assisting you to make the right decision around social media integration into the workplace?


Related topic: Social Media: Impact on How we Learn, Relate and Interact

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Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the author of this article. If you need any support Cottle’s Professional Consulting can assist you. Dr. Cottle draws from her implementation model to adopt new technology in the workplace and can provide you with workable solutions in the adoption, diffusion and infusion of social media. For more information you can contact her at:ccottle@drcottle.com

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

Social Scope of Social Media

Written by Dr. Cheryl Cottle


When I first heard about social media, I thought that it was a forum that was dedicated to meeting people on a social and personal level where people made connection for the purpose of dating and eventually marriage. It was only after being invited by the third person that I decided to take a look at Facebook. On looking closer to what Facebook was about, I found that it had greater implications than making friend connections - - connecting with long lost friends and making familial connection and bridging the generational family gap.


Some of the wider implications that I discovered was that it has great business potential with great opportunities for meeting with and networking with like-minded business people across the globe and transcending various business industries and sectors: Connections that could also lend themselves to valuable opportunities for partnering and collaborating in joint projects.


I also found it to be a great space where you can learn about others and their culture. Social media enables you to connect with people in places that were once seen as far away. I have had the privilege to connect with and chat with people in India, Africa, Italy, Lebanon, the Caribbean, Latin America, to list a few places. Social media has brought the world closer together.


Social media also affords us with the opportunity to share experiences as they occur. For example when the Haiti’s earthquakes occurred, the catastrophic effect was quickly broadcasted keeping us informed of every aspect of it devastating effect. Similarly, when the miners trapped in Chile were rescued; news of that was broadcast to the world, and we were able to celebrate when they were freed and united with their families. More recently with the earthquake experienced in Japan, followed by the devastation of the tsunami and an imminent radio active explosion that threatened their way of living and possible opportunity for rebuilding; people globally were able to live the experience as it unfolded in Japan.


Social media, while it exposes us to what is happening across the globe; it also heightens our awareness and sensitivity towards each other. These experienced, though they might be far away, with social media there is a shared experience that also occurs. People are able to identify with each others pain, suffering, happiness, disappointments and accomplishments. Our sensitivity towards the pain and suffering of others makes us more human: we become more empathetic.


Besides, providing a platform for businesses both small and large corporation, social media also helps people to connect with friends and family members to maintain a social connection.  I also found that it serves as a great political platform for many governments across the globe. Both developed nations and developing countries a like use social media to keep their people informed, to garnish supporters and to maintain socio-political positioning. It is a conduit for getting information across the globe regardless of the issues and institutions within society.


In addition to the many effects that social media has on our social interaction and social connectedness, the implications for businesses are great. Large organization are using social media as a marketing and branding platform for their products and services. Similarly, many smaller businesses are also introducing it into their business strategic plan to ensure that they get their products or services before their niche market. Women-owned businesses are also a part of that change, in the way business is done; and they too are introducing social media into their marketing plan.


As a small business owner, do you have a social media plan? It’s important that you develop a plan proactively before delving into social media.

• Determine if this is something that will work for you right now?


• Identify which social media sites you will use in the short-term and in the long-term


• Identify a strategy that you would be using and come up with a schedule of activities for at 
   least a weekly, monthly or quarterly.


• Identify how much time you can dedicate to social media that will not affect your production   
  and operation time


• Identify whether you have the personnel on board your team to facilitate your social media 
   plan or whether you have to recruit or access outsourcing


As a small business owner do you have a social media plan? Which social media site or sites are you using? What are some of the benefits it has brought to your business since you have integrated it into your strategic plan?

Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting company with a portfolio in education, organizational development, professional and business development. Dr. Cottle is also the creative entrepreneur behind CPC Women in Business.


© Copyright 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle of Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All Rights Reserved!

Cottle's Professional Consulting - - See what others are saying about us!

Cottle's Professional Consulting blog is names the "Top 50 Blogs About Consulting".

The post noted that:

Consultants need to be well versed in a range of topics, from marketing and Web design to leadership techniques. Blogs are a great source of free, expert information to help consultants develop their talents in these areas. We've compiled a list of the 50 best blogs out there that focus on business consulting and topics relevant to that profession. We hope you'll find some helpful consultancy information that's relevant to your particular line of work!

The post also stated that:

Cottle’s Professional Consulting is one of the top 50 Bogs about consulting. The post also noted that: Consultants will find a wide range of information on this blog, hosted by Consultant Dr. Cheryl Cottle. Topics include education, computer training, web design/development, web hosting, and organizational development. Furthermore, the blog contains expert advice on business development and professional development.

If you are interested in visiting a great blog you can check us out! We cover topics on education, organizational development, professional development and business development. It's very informative and beautifully designed with opportunities to share your thoughts, ideas and experiences.

To see source:

CaseManagementCertification.org

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Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting.
Administrator of CPC Women in Business

© Copyright 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved!

Article Review: 100 Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom

Social media is no longer seen as a forum for making connection with friends, planning events, birthday parties, weddings, and anniversaries. Nor is it perceived as a place for organizations and businesses to brand and promote their products or services. It is also seen for its role as a social agent in how teaching and learning is conducted. Social media classroom has also emerged since its introduction and revolutionized how we teach and learn. Social media not only facilitates collaborative learning, but also global and intercultural understanding. Social media has a great impact upon how we communicate and therefore how we learn.


According to the article:

Social media may have started out as a fun way to connect with friends, but it has evolved to become a powerful tool for education and business. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter and tools such as Skype are connecting students to learning opportunities in new and exciting ways. Whether you teach an elementary class, a traditional college class, or at an online university, you will find inspirational ways to incorporate social media in your classroom with this list.

The article provides examples of projects and activities as well as strategies and techniques to effectively integrate social media into the curriculum.

To read more!


Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting
Manager of CPC Women in Business

 

Business Tips Corner: Stay Focused and Work Tirelessly

Business Tips Corner!

For our Business Tips Corner, I will also like to share another quote with you this week. 

Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your decision to be, have and do something out of the ordinary entails facing difficulties and challenges that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else. ~Brian Tracy

Remember that in everything you pursue; whether it is an entrepreneurial, academic or personal development goal, you will face obstacles. According to Brian Tracy, every thing that you pursue will "entail facing difficulties and challenges". If you believe in your entrepreneurial vision, you must stay focused and work tirelessly, until you achieve your goals and dreams. 

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Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: Always do your research

For my Business Tips Corner I will like to share with you some words of wisdom from my grand-son Matthew regarding his decision-making process before making a purchase for toys. By the way, he was named the most "Optimistic Boy in his Class." He is a Grade 3 student and an avid fan of Pokemon, Bakugan, BeyBlade, Chaotic, Chess, Scrabbles, and the list goes on . This is his decision-making process.


This is what he had to say:

I just don't buy a game, I do research to see if it is worth the money it cost; and to make sure that I really like it.  

As entrepreneurs when you are making a purchase make sure that you conduct your research to make sure that the product or services is worth its cost and that it is really what you want. 

Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Creative Entrepreneur and Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: Self Publishing!

Business Tips Corner

This week Business Tips Corner shares information on self publishing. I found this article, written by Manisha Solomon, 10 Secrets to Self-Publishing and it addresses some of the questions that I have clients asked. They are very simple and a direct guide to anyone thinking about writing and self publishing. Have a great read. 

Go to source: 

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Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: Real success in one you cannot spend!

This Weeks’ Business Tips Corner brings you another quote for you to think about and reflect upon.

You can use almost any measure when you're speaking of success. You can measure it in a fancy home, expensive car or dress. But the measure of your real success is one you cannot spend – It's the way your child describes you when talking to a friend." – Martín Baxbaum

Success is important to a businessperson. However, you must remember that success in life is not imbalanced; it is not just how successful you are as a businessperson that counts. Success is a balance between business success and personal success. Personal success includes, how you manage your health, mind, body and spirit, together with the relationships that you form and nurture with your family and friends; and more importantly your spouse and child or children.

How would your child describe you if asked, How would you describe your mother, father?

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Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: To achieve Business Success, find a Balance!

I just thought that for this week’s Business Tips Corner, I will share another quote with you. This time it is a quote by B.C Forbes. He says:

I have known not a few men who, after reaching the summits of business success, found themselves miserable on attaining retirement age. They were so exclusively engrossed in their day-to-day affairs that they had no time for friend making.

Through this quote the author is suggesting that as a businessperson, one should not just work and find success in business development and growth only, but advices that you must also have a personal life; a life that is spiritually and emotionally balanced. Family, friends, and simply appreciating nature and life around you, gives you balance and put you in a contented and happy place even after you retire.

I hope that you too take a pause from your business from time to time to enjoy the things that money, fame or fortune cannot buy. You don't want to be successful when young and lonely when old. Loneliness when old, is one disease that is not reversible.

Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: Customers are the most important visitors on our premises

It has been two weeks since I posted a tip on my Business Tips Corner; and I apologize for that. However, today I bring you a quote by Mahatma Gandhi, on how you treat people whom you rely upon for your business growth. Business owners must be mindful that:

A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He (she) is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him (her). He (she) is not an interruption in our work. He (she) is the purpose of it. He (she) is not an outsider in our business. He  (she) is part of it. We are not doing him (her) a favor by serving him (her). He (she) is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so. 


Treat your customers with dignity. Do not discriminate or use stereotype to determine who your customers are. Don’t let the way you perceive “others” determine your behavior towards them.  It can terribly affect your business, if not in the short-term but in the long-term.

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Shared by Cheryl Cottle

Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting