What REALLY is Social Media and How Does it Help a Person and/or Organization?

As a practicing consultant day in and day out, I have and continue to encounter people that are looking for more information and/or answers on a number of issues but especially social media and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) problems, hence my continued analysis of the subject matter. In fact, as I have learned over the last 3+ years throughout my Doctoral studies and entire business career not only does my own personal knowledge continue to increase in this subject matter but I am also finding that everyone’s knowledge is also increasing exponentially. This could be for many reasons but mostly thanks to network marketing, the new wave of social media, and CRM software (apps included) that are continuing to allow us all to communicate more effectively from just about anywhere.

However, for those out there that still think “social media” is a new part of our continually changing and mainstream culture, others disagree, as this median is by no means new. (Borders, 2009) stated that people and businesses all over the world have been using different types of digital media over the last 30+ years to communicate, socialize, network, etc. except back then, more often than not people referred to this median as the telephone, newspaper, television, etc (i.e. phones have been used for the last 60+ years). So then, what is “social media?” According to an industry expert social media is a way or form of expressing you and/or your company’s information in a social online forum. It can be looked at as the passing of information amongst friends, colleges, co-workers, and worldwide connections. This is actually no different from those days, when we used digital media such as newspapers or the landline telephone to connect with our friends, colleges, co-workers, or those often referred to as our “target market.” Whether we are connecting with people online or in-person, the truth is we can now connect deeper with others who are truly our “target markets.” Each and every time we connect in these ways (in person or online) it increases our relationships and our brand awareness. Most of the time people may not need your specific product and/or service at that exact moment but when a person does or when they run into someone that needs it they are more likely to think of you or recommend you and/or your company. Therefore, social media is often referred to as another friendly way to advertise to those within your inner/outer circles or can be broken down further to apply to a percentage of the contacts that you make over time. For example, if you meet 1000 people in a year and it applies to 10% of them, then you have gained 100 potential or “hopefully” actual clients. On a larger scale is you meet 10,000 people and have a 7% return, then 700 would be the number of potential of “hopefully” actual clients. Perhaps this is the most important part of social media, as it provides one of the only means of meeting that many people in open or closed forums through sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Quora, Empire Ave, LinkedIn, Foursquare, etc. After all, if meeting people is a big part of creditability, then you should build relationships with others first regardless of the median, and sales and/or other potential opportunities will come later. In the end, social media helps not only build relationships but also helps people plant seeds, that if watered and given sun, will eventually grow. This new thing called “social media” is no different then what people have been doing for years in sales or other organizations like local Chamber of Commerce’s or Business Network International (BNI) groups. The only difference is that social media allows a person and/or organization the ability to plant additional seeds, that 30 years ago would have been impossible or required much more time, energy, and effort, which then will in turn, turn into ripe orchards in years to come (G Social Media, 2009).

As I continue my research and reporting, not only will I continue to report on Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) but also how Supply Chain Management (SCM), CRM, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), social media, and other technological system advancements will impact people and other (i.e. Small-to-Medium Enterprises) organizations in the years ahead. From this research and collected data, I will then introduce readers to a completely new concept and program that will help take us forward into the 21st Century. Until then, sit back relax, and enjoy the history, current progression, and future direction of social media and other technological systems analysis that I have/am continuing to provide and more importantly are continuing to change the way we communicate and the way the world operates. Of course, if you have any questions, comments, and or advice I am always looking to expand my knowledge base as explained in the opening; otherwise, keep smiling, as I continue to look forward to our journey together!

References

Borders, B. (2009). A Brief Histroy of Social Media, 2011, from http://copybrighter.com/history-of-social media

G Social Media (2009). What is Social Media, why, and how can it help me, from http://www.gsocialmedia.com/2009/11/what-is-social-media-why-and-how-can-it.html

How Does/Can Social Media Impact Your Supply Chain and/or Business Strategy?

Of late there has been a lot of talk about the influences that social media plays in almost all the things we do in our daily lives. In fact, many people have argued that this new median for reaching larger audiences is now starting to affect the ways organizations conduct business, build relationships, and increase sales throughout the world while enhancing supply chain operations. Or is it?

As customer wants and the business landscape continues to change, we must also continue to look for ways to integrate social media into our daily business activities if we want to continue achieving the type of long-term growth most of us are looking for, or the old adage “innovate or die.” In a recent blog post (Cunha, 2011) discussed some of the ways that we can connect customers with things they want to buy in it what he terms “the Connected Experience” by discussing four important concepts (1) ERP, (2) Real-Time, (3) China, and (4) Software, while offering several detailed explanations of each.

(1)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)- the corner stone of the supply chain, which offers a company the ability to plan, analyze, and/or implement new strategies in a timely manner in order to produce enough product in real-time. That is if the organization realizes the strengths and weaknesses in what their system(s) can do such as integrating your ERP system with a reputable Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system in order to track customer issues with product quality, other opinions, and reviews or through other medians such as Social Media.
(2)Real-Time- what many purchasing decisions are based on, especially now with social media, as these medians offer leaders the ability to track potential purchase decisions simply by tracking the number of likes, dislikes, comments, and/or discussions through almost any social media site, which is extremely important in small and large purchases alike.
(3)China- the research continues to show China a leader in retail marketing by their continued success in online trading platforms such as Alibaba, Made in China, Global Sources, etc. It is no secret that these as well as other social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook have and will continue to allow China and others the ability to reach mass audiences while streaming the way the products are purchased, distributed, and consumed all over the world. Either organizations will have to get on board or be left behind.
(4)Software- with a number of different enterprise systems available to organizations (ERP, VMI, APS, etc) obviously the key here is to understand what system can offer you the best ways to analyze data in order to make additional long-term strategic decisions. If you use one if not more of these systems with a mix of social media sites, you should be able to segment, create benchmarks, and correlations between your software solutions and your bottom-line results.

(Cunha, 2011) identified four important and relevant items that can help you and/or your organization collect, analyze, and assemble new ways to reach more people, hence streamlining your supply chain functionality. Regardless of the reasons, you use social media, it is becoming more important now a days to use it, and if you don’t then later you will more than likely end up asking yourself why you didn’t. As more and more companies continue to build their online presence, more and more people and businesses will continue to make purchases, while influencing others within their network to make the same purchases, which should indicate that your social networks can not only grow your business but also encourage new strategies for those involved in making strategic supply chain decisions. Ultimately, social media will never replace personal relationships but it should allow companies to build leaner supply chains, while connecting more brands with more consumers for any organization that competes in the market today.

Lastly, (Cunha, 2011) analysis like many of the others that I have continued to review over the course of my Doctoral work provides yet a few more reasons why this subject matter is extremely important not only to the continued evolution of supply chains systems but any system that social media has/will impact in the years ahead. Of course, other opinions, ideas, and suggestions are what will ultimately decide who, what, when or where consumers make a purchase but this subject should continue to drive business and purchasing decisions in some fashion in the foreseeable future, hence why this is such as important piece of the work that I continue to report and conduct. Of course, I am always up for your opinions and you can also contact Mr Cunha through my references at the bottom of this page.

Until, next time continuing smiling, achieving, and dedicated, as we all look for answers to the social media maze-- Cheers

References
Cunha, L. (2011). What does social media mean to your supply chain? Warehouse Management Systems Guide, retrieved on May 6, 2011 from: http://www.warehousemanagementsystemsguide.com/blog/social-media-supply-chain-042711/