Leaders always are looking for new ways to leverage their companies’ brands. But why is it that less than half of CEOs participate on social media sites?*
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and even company blogs are channels to reach giant pools of prospects. It’s true that social outlets require upkeep with regular and high-quality posts, but the potential ROI is great.
Whether you choose to engage with social, your reputation is at stake. Consider three reasons why social CEOs are successful CEOs:
They shape conversation and get coverage
Media outlets turn to social media for stories and sources. The social CEO with an active Twitter feed, Facebook profile and company blog is more open to reporters.
Broadcasting company news and personal interests can shape coverage with no need for news releases or playing phone tag with a beat reporter. If you want coverage, follow the right reporters and editors on social media. Try to engage them in genuine (e.g., not self-promoting) ways. When social media outreach comes from the C-suite, people take notice.
They make those person-to-person connections
Social media is about human connections, and a great way to show your human side is by sharing the content of others. When a CEO connects on a personal level by answering a question, sharing an article or leaving a comment, it demonstrates engagement. Firms earn raving fans (i.e., customers) via engagement, and an engaged CEO is a powerful marketing tool.
They wow employees, new and old
People who might be interested in working for you already are listening via social media. Why not knock their socks off by showing off your CEO’s sparkling insight and sense of purpose? Leaders know the best talent is picky, and social media is a new front in the recruiting war.
A social C-suite can be incredibly engaging for current employees who are on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Social media can temporarily flatten the hierarchy between workers and the C-suite. Hearing ideas directly from the CEO feels personal and transparent. There’s a good chance employees will share updates from leadership with their personal circles as well, amplifying the reach of social activity.
*Statistic courtesy of www.mediabistro.com
