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Five Things CEOs Really Oughta Be Doing WIth Social Media

By: Marijean Jaggers | 09/14/2009

It's been interesting, over time, to watch CEOs enter and play around in the social media space. They're all there to one degree or another, and enough have dabbled to let us know they understand it's important, but perhaps not exactly what their role should be online. I have some pretty strong ideas about this and so offer you the following list to debate:

Five Things CEOs Really Oughta Be Doing with Social Media

1. Using a feed reader such as Google Reader. At a minimum, CEOs should be subscribing to their own company's blog (if they have one). In addition, CEOs should be subscribing to blogs and other online content in their industry. There are probably some news feeds that would be useful as well. In addition, CEOs should be following the blogs of their employees, just to stay informed about what's going on in the lives of the people they work with; not so much to watchdog what's being said. Above all, using a feed reader should be mandatory for top executives because it makes reading online content much more efficient -- and these are the people who need help managing their time the most, right?

2. Creating a LinkedIn profile that is 100 percent complete, with a photo, history and contact information and uploading all contacts. As the CEO of your company, you're probably the best-connected person on staff. Why not help out the rest of your business development team by allowing your social network to connect to theirs?

3. Setting up a personal Twitter account with a real photo and a name that makes sense. We don't care if you tweet; in fact, don't if you don't have anything to say. Please follow people in your industry, your employees and others you find interesting. You may find you have something to say after all.

4. Giving others in your organization the authority to use social media. Whether you're blogging, tweeting or doing nothing at all, make sure others in your organization know you endorse their involvement in social media on behalf of the company, and reward them for doing a good job.

5. Creating a Google Profile. Since your name is close to or is completely synonymous with your company, your name in a Google search should reflect that. Take the time to create the Google profile you want others to see, then use it; on your Web site, in e-mail signatures and whereever you have an online presence. Your personal brand is connected to that of your company's - recognize the power in that and use it responsibly.

What do you think?

Posted in Digital Communications