The Social Media Discussion

One of the industry blogs I frequently peruse is ASAE & The Center's Acronym (I love the name!). Throughout November, Acronym is discussing social media and Web 2.0 - blogs, YouTube, Wiki - and the effects those things have on the business world. The information is great - I check back daily to see what more I can learn. Yesterday's post, The Naked Org, discussed the underlying fears of bringing Web 2.0 into you office, association, etc.: Lack of control, lack of privacy, and all the other cans of worms that can open should you decide to speak publicly about the way you do business. The post links to several sources that talk about the benefits and disadvantages of social media.

One article mentioned, from the March issue of Wired, I found extremely interesting. Author Clive Thompson writes about companies, such as Southwest Airlines or Microsoft, that use social media to talk about good news, trends, mistakes and even allowing employees to comment - quite publicly - about what they would like to see. Thompson gives examples of how this technique can both help and hinder your business. For example, if a company makes a PR blunder, it can try to cover it up, or through a blog or video, apologize, reassess or even put a positive spin on the mistake.

What are your thoughts? Should everything be out on the table like this, or should companies remain private about squabbles, issues, etc.? Have you ever used social media to make decisions about a company? Does your company have a blog? Do you see a benefit?

UPDATE (Nov. 8, 2007): Our editor, Joel Schettler, pointed me toward an article from Folio that may be of interest, and also makes mention of MPI and The Meeting Professional.

--Amanda Fretheim Gates
Associate Editor
Meetings: Minnesota's Hospitality Journal

Comments

[Idetrorce]

very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce

[celpjefscycle]

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[Gwendolentq]

thank you, guy