Comments on: Social Media Isn’t Always the Answer http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/ Exploring the strategery of using social media within the government Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: So You Just Graduated and You Want a Job | Social Media Strategery http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-1675 So You Just Graduated and You Want a Job | Social Media Strategery Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:01:00 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-1675 [...] overvalue your social media skills.  Social media, while hot right now, isn’t always the answer.  Make sure that you have a solid understanding of communication principles because we can teach [...] [...] overvalue your social media skills.  Social media, while hot right now, isn’t always the answer.  Make sure that you have a solid understanding of communication principles because we can teach [...]

]]> By: I Just Graduated and I Want a Job in Social Media « The PRSA-NCC Blog http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-842 I Just Graduated and I Want a Job in Social Media « The PRSA-NCC Blog Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:44:54 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-842 [...] overvalue your social media skills.  Social media, while hot right now, isn’t always the answer.  Make sure that you have a solid understanding of communication principles because we can teach [...] [...] overvalue your social media skills.  Social media, while hot right now, isn’t always the answer.  Make sure that you have a solid understanding of communication principles because we can teach [...]

]]> By: sradick http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-166 sradick Sat, 27 Dec 2008 06:13:53 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-166 Don't get me wrong - I do think that public-facing organizations NEED to get in this space. I just think that the when, why, and how changes depending on the organization. Depending on the needs and culture of the organization, that could mean full-scale involvement on Twitter, Facebook, a blog, commenting on others' blogs, etc., OR it can be as simple as adding RSS feeds to your site and setting up an alert anytime mentions your org's name on Twitter. It just depends on what you're ready for and what makes the most sense. Don’t get me wrong – I do think that public-facing organizations NEED to get in this space. I just think that the when, why, and how changes depending on the organization. Depending on the needs and culture of the organization, that could mean full-scale involvement on Twitter, Facebook, a blog, commenting on others’ blogs, etc., OR it can be as simple as adding RSS feeds to your site and setting up an alert anytime mentions your org’s name on Twitter. It just depends on what you’re ready for and what makes the most sense.

]]> By: sradick http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-4620 sradick Sat, 27 Dec 2008 06:13:00 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-4620 Don't get me wrong - I do think that public-facing organizations NEED to get in this space. I just think that the when, why, and how changes depending on the organization. Depending on the needs and culture of the organization, that could mean full-scale involvement on Twitter, Facebook, a blog, commenting on others' blogs, etc., OR it can be as simple as adding RSS feeds to your site and setting up an alert anytime mentions your org's name on Twitter. It just depends on what you're ready for and what makes the most sense. Don’t get me wrong – I do think that public-facing organizations NEED to get in this space. I just think that the when, why, and how changes depending on the organization. Depending on the needs and culture of the organization, that could mean full-scale involvement on Twitter, Facebook, a blog, commenting on others’ blogs, etc., OR it can be as simple as adding RSS feeds to your site and setting up an alert anytime mentions your org’s name on Twitter. It just depends on what you’re ready for and what makes the most sense.

]]> By: Andrea Hill http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Andrea Hill Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:54:52 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-165 I agree completely: there seems to be a sense of urgency around social media, that organizations NEED to get into this space. Yet as you state, it's not just about the use of particular tools. There needs also to be a fundamental culture shift within an organization. I think the reason why integrating social media into organizations is so difficult is because it focuses on the individual (I generally differentiate between the "personal" and the "professional" appications of social media). In your list above, your points focus on the behaviours of individuals as dictated by the organization. Unless these two sides are in alignment, there is always going to be tension, and "doing social media" is NOT going to be beneficial. I agree completely: there seems to be a sense of urgency around social media, that organizations NEED to get into this space. Yet as you state, it’s not just about the use of particular tools. There needs also to be a fundamental culture shift within an organization.

I think the reason why integrating social media into organizations is so difficult is because it focuses on the individual (I generally differentiate between the “personal” and the “professional” appications of social media). In your list above, your points focus on the behaviours of individuals as dictated by the organization. Unless these two sides are in alignment, there is always going to be tension, and “doing social media” is NOT going to be beneficial.

]]> By: Andrea Hill http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-4619 Andrea Hill Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:54:00 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-4619 I agree completely: there seems to be a sense of urgency around social media, that organizations NEED to get into this space. Yet as you state, it's not just about the use of particular tools. There needs also to be a fundamental culture shift within an organization. I think the reason why integrating social media into organizations is so difficult is because it focuses on the individual (I generally differentiate between the "personal" and the "professional" appications of social media). In your list above, your points focus on the behaviours of individuals as dictated by the organization. Unless these two sides are in alignment, there is always going to be tension, and "doing social media" is NOT going to be beneficial. I agree completely: there seems to be a sense of urgency around social media, that organizations NEED to get into this space. Yet as you state, it’s not just about the use of particular tools. There needs also to be a fundamental culture shift within an organization.

I think the reason why integrating social media into organizations is so difficult is because it focuses on the individual (I generally differentiate between the “personal” and the “professional” appications of social media). In your list above, your points focus on the behaviours of individuals as dictated by the organization. Unless these two sides are in alignment, there is always going to be tension, and “doing social media” is NOT going to be beneficial.

]]> By: Alex, aka Socialbutterfly http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-164 Alex, aka Socialbutterfly Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:00:42 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-164 Great post and points. I think your point is true whether it's a government client or not. To further, social media are just tools and a means to an end. Sometimes, I think it's easy to say, "Let's create a MySpace page or a blog," and think smaller instead of backing up and thinking bigger picture--sometimes it's not that person's or organization's fault because they have to create that cultural shift step by step. Social media isn't a cure-all. I think you get that, and so thank you for this post, and reminding us about the bigger picture. Happy Holidays! Great post and points. I think your point is true whether it’s a government client or not. To further, social media are just tools and a means to an end. Sometimes, I think it’s easy to say, “Let’s create a MySpace page or a blog,” and think smaller instead of backing up and thinking bigger picture–sometimes it’s not that person’s or organization’s fault because they have to create that cultural shift step by step. Social media isn’t a cure-all. I think you get that, and so thank you for this post, and reminding us about the bigger picture. Happy Holidays!

]]> By: Alex, aka Socialbutterfly http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-4618 Alex, aka Socialbutterfly Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:00:00 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-4618 Great post and points. I think your point is true whether it's a government client or not. To further, social media are just tools and a means to an end. Sometimes, I think it's easy to say, "Let's create a MySpace page or a blog," and think smaller instead of backing up and thinking bigger picture--sometimes it's not that person's or organization's fault because they have to create that cultural shift step by step. Social media isn't a cure-all. I think you get that, and so thank you for this post, and reminding us about the bigger picture. Happy Holidays! Great post and points. I think your point is true whether it’s a government client or not. To further, social media are just tools and a means to an end. Sometimes, I think it’s easy to say, “Let’s create a MySpace page or a blog,” and think smaller instead of backing up and thinking bigger picture–sometimes it’s not that person’s or organization’s fault because they have to create that cultural shift step by step. Social media isn’t a cure-all. I think you get that, and so thank you for this post, and reminding us about the bigger picture. Happy Holidays!

]]> By: Dennis McDonald http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Dennis McDonald Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:55:15 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-161 I have to agree -- using the wrong tools or using tools wrongly can be counterproductive. The point I was trying to make was that you don't have to push for wide-scale culture change to promote adoption of tools that make processes more efficient through the sharing of information. That will depend on the process of course, but not everyone is threatened by more openness and transparency. A lot of people will jump at using tools that make their jobs easier or more productive. Such benefits don't have to be limited to white collar or senior management level applications. I have to agree — using the wrong tools or using tools wrongly can be counterproductive.

The point I was trying to make was that you don’t have to push for wide-scale culture change to promote adoption of tools that make processes more efficient through the sharing of information. That will depend on the process of course, but not everyone is threatened by more openness and transparency. A lot of people will jump at using tools that make their jobs easier or more productive. Such benefits don’t have to be limited to white collar or senior management level applications.

]]> By: Dennis McDonald http://steveradick.com/2008/12/23/social-media-isnt-always-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-4617 Dennis McDonald Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:55:00 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=236#comment-4617 I have to agree -- using the wrong tools or using tools wrongly can be counterproductive. The point I was trying to make was that you don't have to push for wide-scale culture change to promote adoption of tools that make processes more efficient through the sharing of information. That will depend on the process of course, but not everyone is threatened by more openness and transparency. A lot of people will jump at using tools that make their jobs easier or more productive. Such benefits don't have to be limited to white collar or senior management level applications. I have to agree — using the wrong tools or using tools wrongly can be counterproductive.

The point I was trying to make was that you don’t have to push for wide-scale culture change to promote adoption of tools that make processes more efficient through the sharing of information. That will depend on the process of course, but not everyone is threatened by more openness and transparency. A lot of people will jump at using tools that make their jobs easier or more productive. Such benefits don’t have to be limited to white collar or senior management level applications.

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