What's happening so far at the Social Media Forum?

So, here I am, half way through the first day of Melcrum's Social Media Forum. And the hot topics getting tongues wagging so far? In the first session of the day, Philippe Borremans - the European Leader of IBM's Global New Media Team - discussed IBM's use of social media tools so far. Something interesting the company's been experimenting with is an internal video contest which asked for entries on the subject of innovation. It's apparently helped to increase employee engagement at IBM and some of the videos have been uploaded to YouTube.

One of Philippe's main messages for encouraging the successful take-up of social media tools, was to start small and educate internally - set clear blogging guidelines, for example, and there can be little room for error, or harm to your company's reputation (finger's crossed!).

In Neville Hobson's session 'How to create and launch a social media strategy for your organisation', we heard about all the latest social media tools currently worrying the CEOs of companies all over the land. From Twitter to Flickr, TechMe to Facebook, the shows of hands and delegate discussions indicated the biggest reason companies haven't embraced blogging (in particular) so far, is fear. Fear that an employee will inadvertently, or otherwise, harm the company's reputation.

One delegate mentioned that at her organisation employees were reluctant to contribute to a wiki because of worries that their postings would be edited to the point of misrepresentation/misinterpretation. And Neville left with the advice that we should all be aware of the business opportunities that Second Life can offer...

...more from the Social Media Forum later.

Comments

[Alex Garforth]

In listening in to these sessions, one thing does cross my mind. How does the average Joe have the time for 'twittering'? And also, who's interested?

[Annie Waite]

That's exactly the point that Neville mentioned - that twitter-ing in some cases is really compelling but in most cases, is a complete and utter waste of time! He suggested that by the end of this month, there'd be a vast range of businesses banning employees from logging on to twitter...

[Katrina Andrews]

I also found Neville's comments on what type of organization should be investing in social media interesting. He listed Fard Johmars - From Command and Control to Engage and Encourage Cycle as a reference to help decipher this.

(available at: http://www.envisionsolutionsnow.com/pdf/
Ebooks/Engage_and_Encourage.pdf)

[Matt O'Neill]

Is there a standard tag that people have been asked to apply to blog posts?

I'd like to follow the goings on, but hard to follow on Technorati unless a consistent tag.

M

[David Ferrabee]

I would love to Twitter. And to move into Second Life. But I think I am a candidate for the parody site that Neville put up. I need to 'get a first life' first.

/df

[Robin Crumby]

The Second Life parody site Neville mentioned which got big laughs was Get a Life: http://www.getafirstlife.com/

Like they say: 'First Life is a 3D analog world where server lag does not exist.' Maybe worth a try.

[Alex Manchester]

I simply can't see the attraction with Twitter I'm afraid, can someone please explain?

If I wanted to update or post thoughts to a big group from my mobile phone, I can use Typepad mobile to post straight to my blog. What's the point in setting up another page to do a similar thing? And just to keep people updated with what I'm doing on a micro-basis? Crikey, what a waste of time:

"Just wasted 30 seconds writing this message for twitter" - send.

"Just walked into a lampost wondering if anyone's finding my twitter page interesting - it hurt" - send.

And don't people usually refer to other people in a negative context when saying "they're twittering"? As in, "she was twittering on and it really did get quite tiresome by the end of it."

I hear some are finding a use for it and new stuff always has its critics but this just seems utterly pointless from where I'm sitting.

As for Second Life, it's amazing, truly, but David, try not to think about it being called "Second Life". I find that really helps!

[Debbie Weil]

I found one of the IBM contest videos on YouTube. It seems the membrane between internal and external communications is more porous than ever. Fascinating, huh?!

[Annie Waite]

Alex, I think twitter might become addictive if you chance upon a twitterer/twit who is funny/zany enough, or so stultifyingly dull that it becomes funny, to maintain an interest. Obviously, the majority won't be, but i'm curious as to how it might develop. Will there be twitter events, like Flashmob events such as the pillowfight in Trafalgar Square at the weekend? Maybe in the spirit of twittering they'll dress up as birds?!

[Claudia Whitcombe]

The presentation by Richard Hare at British American Tobacco spoke about how they are using blogging to engage their workforce.

One point he made was about the identity of bloggers. He spoke of a blog that the CEO had set up. The CEO was prompted to allow bloggers to submit anonymous comments. This allowed employees to engage in conversation and comment without the fear of reciprocation. However, there was no-one to police the comments, and some of the responses got "out of hand". The CEO stopped blogging. This may be quite an individual case, however it does raise the question: should companies allow anonymous blogging?

Employees should be able to post their comments and thoughts without the fear that they are going to be flagged for it. The great thing about blogs is how they are used on a such level that conveys personal thoughts and beliefs. The comments and feedback can then be used by management to make changes and perfect new strategy.

It all comes back to having the most up to date and correct information and knowledge. Employees' confidence in blogs is so important to getting a broad and realistic view of a company. If that confidence is not present, then maybe anonymous blogging would be preferable??!

[Judy Gombita]

Not sure if he received credit, but the Get a First Life parody was created by (west-coast Canuck) Darren Barefoote. His community's commentary about it was equally hilarious.

www.darrenbarefoot.com/archives/2007/01/
my-project-du-jour-getafirstlifecom.html

[Alex Manchester]

Annie, re: Twitter, a couple of people have said to me you "need to get your network going on to really understand it." I guess that marks it down as another social networking tool? I'm not sure.

Mitch Joel says it's a brand imaging tool. Again, I'm not sure. Time will tell I suppose.

[Sona Hathi]

Twitter's a bit like Big Brother. I think the only reason people could actually be interested in reading the mundane things that others around the world are doing is because it draws on their curiousity about other people's private lives. It's mild voyeurism! Neville was saying that Twitter is a bit sad but it's somehow compelling, isn't this like Big Brother too?

I think "Twitterers" are either VERY lonely or suffering from an ego complex, because I'll bet there are ten times more people posting on twitter than there are reading them. And while the same is being said for blogging, at least blogs generate some kind of discussion, thoughts and ideas, there's something to learn from blogs. What use does twitter have???

I would love for someone to challenge my view!

[Annie Waite]

Perhaps it's a bit like the Eastenders appeal - that it's nice to know other people's lives are generally more miserable than yours! Or in twitter's/twitterers' case - less busy.

[Job van Harmelen]

Annie re: anonymous blogging. We have used the ability for anonymous replies to an internal CEO weblog at a client. The possibility to reply anonymously does lower the barriers to share information in some cultures.

In three years time we have only once had a situation where an anonymous dialogue had to be removed from the blog: a third party managed the discussion in a closed environment.

On the other hand you do not wish to provide people with a medium to anonymously address ten thousands of colleagues worldwide.

We have solved the issue in the following way:

1) Possibility for anonymous comments in alignment and/or enagement surveys.
2) Blogs and Chat session contributions are not anonymous.
3) If there are serious issues to share, people can use whistleblowing channels etc.

[Aniisu]

After reading this post, I think India has a long way to go!

I have never heard any of my counterparts in internal or corporate communications talk or even mention any of the social media tools discussed in the post. Apart from blogs and Flickr!

That brings me to the point - is social media tool usage depend on cultural factors as well?