Remember when …
–The Post Office was actually relevant because all correspondence came through your mailbox?
–IBM Selectric typewriters and “White Out” transformed office environments?
–30-second jingles heard on TV were “the” advertising medium?
And then …
–Mail was first replaced by fax transmissions, and now email.
–Memory typewriters and gargantuan computers replaced electric typewriters. Does the product “White Out” even exist today?
–Thankfully, intrusive push advertising became easily handled with a push of the mute button.
And today …
–There’s a computer in almost every home; and
–According to an Internet trends report by Morgan Stanley, email usage is flattening out as social media usage is increasing.
What does the SM trend mean for you as a Chief Financial Officer? Maybe nothing if you are one of the few CFOs embracing the power of Web 2.0 technology. If you’re not onboard, you might get run over because this train is coming … and coming at full speed.
Beyond the typical career strategies social media facilitates (Tweeting, Social Media Boat, Sequel), here are some ways you can begin easing into the new technology …
–Use a private or internal Twitter account to rapidly and transparently communicate with your entire finance or executive team and/or track high priority projects;
–Encourage your executive leadership team to get on Linked In with complete profiles to raise the visibility and credibility of your company;
–Make your loyal clients or customers feel exclusive and inclusive with a private group on Linked In or a Facebook fan page. (If you’re a CFO and would like to join my CFO Careers group on Linked In, please send me an email and I’ll send you an invitation to join … or follow my Facebook Business page.)
I’d love to hear how you, as the chief finance leader, are leveraging the power of social media either corporately or individually.
Great post, hear hear! The change is here, so stop asking should we look at this and get on with educating yourselves and hiring someone who has done it well.
Spoken like a true social media Maven, Michele! From the great Will Rogers … Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.