Social networking is as simple as donuts and pie

The jury may still be out about which social networking method is the best, but it is not out about whether social networking is here to stay. It is. Luckily, social networking has evolved. What used to be for musicians then for self-absorbed teenagers has become available for all.

People, companies, and causes use social networking via social media channels to keep in touch, influence buying decisions, and gain support.

As a lifelong social butterfly, I love social networking as a way to interact with even more people than I ever imagined. My favorites are Facebook, Linked In, and Twitter, but there are many other methods utilized by very successful people in a variety of fields.

There are so many social media sites to choose from, it can be confusing. The photographic description of popular social media channels shows each one as it relates to donuts.

Social networking has evolved further than the donut analogy shows.

It is becoming passé to use social networking to talk about oneself all the time. I love Facebook because I like to know what my friends and long-lost chums are up to, not because I need them to know all about me. On Linked In, I like being connected with experts from a variety of fields because it makes me resourceful. As for Twitter, I like knowing what others are eager to share.

My view of social media is more like the chart on the right, which is less about me and more about others. After all, they are much more interesting!

Social should mean two-way communication; however, advertising traditionalists used to one-way self-promotion are still learning how to capitalize on the interactive opportunities in today’s social networking.

A terrific example of the current use of social networking was exhibited by CNBC, the cable business news television channel. On Tuesday evenings, CNBC shows reruns of another channel’s popular business show, Shark Tank. After two episodes of Shark Tank, CNBC airs one of its own shows, The Profit. I am a big fan of both shows and, as some of you know, I tweet about them on Tuesday nights.

Two weeks ago, CNBC sent me a direct message via Twitter saying they wanted to thank me with a gift for watching The Profit.  Since they had just aired an episode about a candy store and had a bakery episode coming up, I sent my work address right away.

A week later, a pie arrived! The package contained a key lime pie, show t-shirt, and thank you note.

It was yummy! Several of our colleagues enjoyed a slice of pie sent to thank me just for doing what I liked doing anyway. I call that winning, don’t you?

If you want to use social networking well, consider the following tips:

1. Be selective. Each has different pros/cons, so use only the media you like best.
2. Be genuine. This is the most important piece of advice I have for all participants. Phoniness is a turnoff.
3. Interact. This is the second most important advice. Follow others and comment on their posts. One-way communication is out-of-date.
4. Be useful. People are more interested in a recipe for success than in what you had for lunch.
5. Be humble. Posting only accomplishments will be as annoying as those braggadocios holiday letters.

As much as I like it, I understand that everyone is not cut out for social networking.

You might have been turned off by social networking, but it’s not your teenager’s network any more. Maybe you got sick of people posting pics of every meal on Facebook, or of every move their kids make, but it’s not used like that by most people any more. Now, you can great groups to include or exclude people who still post that way. Maybe you are introverted and prefer to interact only with a small group of close friends, family, and colleagues.

Whatever your preference, stay updated. Stay informed.

People who think their customers aren’t on social networks or who think social media is a waste of time are dinosaurs. Real relationships begin and build via social channels every day. Social networking is evolving, and people, companies, and causes need to stay updated or they will miss out. It is as simple as that.

Facebook's obvious disregard for stakeholders

Companies today seek to align their focus on all five of their stakeholders in order to position themselves for long-term competitive advantage.

Facebook, however, appears to be disinterested in stakeholder alignment.

You've already heard about, or have been involved in, Facebook's IPO debacle. Some fault for that fiasco rests outside of Facebook, but much of it rests inside. In mid-May, the stock was expected to trade at $38. It was higher than that for a short time on opening day but has been nowhere near $38 since. The stock has risen in the last two weeks, closing yesterday at $32.06, down 16% from IPO price. However, even as the stock trends upward, Facebook and its investment banks are being sued by dozens of shareholders who allege that financial forecasts for Facebook were cut prior to the IPO but the change was not publicized. 

Facebook contends it did nothing illegal with regard to changing its forecasts or how it announced the changes. Companies truly concerned with stakeholder alignment care when their stakeholders, including shareholders, are angry and feel cheated. Facebook has shown it does not care, as long as what it did was legal. Shareholders don't care much about the touchy-feely side of business, as long as they are making money. However, since they are obviously not making money, they will scrutinize (and sue!) Facebook until they are compensated and do not feel duped.

Duped investors are not the foundation of long-term success. 

On to the next action that shows Facebook's blatant disregard for its stakeholders...

Yesterday, Facebook changed its users/customers' email addresses to the ones Facebook created for them. In 2010, Facebook introduced its own email service but it was not widely used. Yesterday, without any notification to its users, Facebook changed users' profiles to have their Facebook-created-whether-you-want-it-or-not email address as the primary email on the account. They did not change the way they reach users, just the way users could reach each other.

Facebook's customers do not want another email account and they certainly do not want Facebook changing their accounts without notification. In response to the outrage yesterday, Facebook did not explain or even admit to altering the default account settings. Facebook has made similar changes to accounts without notification. They continue to show lack of respect for their customers.

What Facebook should recognize is: they need its stakeholders more than we need Facebook.

Investors can make money elsewhere and users can be in touch with friends on other sites, and most are. If Facebook continues to show disregard for its investors and users, two primary stakeholders, they will erode the trust necessary for long-term sustainability. If Facebook continues to dupe investors and users, another social site can take its place. Get ready, that's what is likely to happen.

When employers cross the line with Facebook

A colleague's son recently interviewed for his first professional position in anticipation of his May 2012 graduation. The interviewer asked general questions about Facebook, then turned to her computer, went to Facebook, and asked the son for his login ID and password. Since his profile and wall were private to the prospective employer, she wanted to log in to see his activity.

Does that cross the line? What would you have done if you were being interviewed and your login information was requested?

Does requesting login information for current employees cross the line too, or is that different?

I realize employees spending company time on social sites could be problematic on several levels--poor work performance, lack of teamwork, low productivity. But, is it the company's business how employees spend their non-company time?

If you don't want your coworkers or employer to know about your kids, hobbies, vacation, friends, friends' kids, family, family issues, is it their business to force you to reveal such things?


My perspective is that the issue really is about the company and its culture.

First, if company were utilizing the employees' skills well, there would be no time for Facebook during the work day. Also, the employees would not be interested in wasting time if their time were being used well.

Second, if the managers knew their people better, demanding logins would be unnecessary. Managers who show interest in their people can learn about kids, family, friends, hobbies, interests, etc. If employees feel the need to keep their lives secret, that says something about the lack of trust for their managers and the organization. Or, perhaps the employee's hobbies are illegal or immoral?

Third, as a manager or employer, once you learn private information, you may be responsible for it. You might shoulder the burden of an employee's sick grandparent now that you know there is a big fundraiser. Or, you might become witness to legal battles between exes. Or, you might learn about lifestyles that are not common in your organization. Learning more than people want to reveal is not always advantageous for the company.

If an interviewer asked me for my Facebook login, I would request theirs first. After all, I would want to see just who I would be working with and how they spend their time. Do you think the interviewer would provide it? Me either.

______________________________________
What do you think?
Is requiring Facebook login information from job candidates and current employees over the line?