The power of social media: when the virtual & real world collide

Virtual vs Real World Conversations

There are differences between what people say on the internet and what people say in the real world.

The main difference is what people feel they can say to someone online compared to face to face.

Somehow people feel they can be slightly more rude and abrupt people feel they can be.



Because they are having these conversations online rather than to their face, then they feel less inhibited.

At some point the backchannel will backlash and the person you are talking about could make you stand up and take responsibility for your discussions.

Think personal reputation
Managing your own personal brand online is important for your own credibility and authority online. How would you come across twittering on the back channel at a conference slating the presenter? Getting a reputation as someone who's trigger happy and lippy on twitter and other social media sites will damage your personal reputation.

Think the wider picture
When doing business these day's people will research who you are and judge your integrity, honesty and credibility online. People will 'Google' your name and company. The 'private world' of the conference is long gone and your tweets are a reminder of your harsh opinions.

2 Tips to manage your Reputation Online

• Only say to people online what you would say to their face. At some point the virtual and real world will collide. You may have to justify what you have said, it's easier to have the same beliefs and values online and offline.
  
  
• Keep track of what is listed in Google for your name and company name. Managing your profile and what's in the news is important to your profile. Use something like Google Alerts, TrackUR or Alterian are useful tools for achieving this.

Leeds Social Media Surgery- Tuesday 13th April

The Leeds Social Media group is run by a group of local bloggers and social media enthusiasts.

We're a really friendly bunch and offer free advice for local community and voluntary groups, clubs, societies and small arts organisations.

If you want to know how to use your website to best promote your cause or organisation or may be you want to know more about blogs, twitter, wikis and forums but don't know where to find out more then come along to one of our sessions.

Date: Tuesday 13th April 2010

Time: 5.30pm - 7pm

Place: Round Foundry Media Centre, Foundry Street, Leeds, LS11 5QP

People can drop in but we 'encouraging' people to sign up on the eventbrite site here: http://leedssms3.eventbrite.com/

Or join the Facebook group or future events and information, links and advice http://bit.ly/LeedsSocialFB

Book Review: The Backchannel, Cliff Atkinson

How Audiences are Using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever, £12.99

The backchannel are the people in your audience who are using social media sites such as Twitter to collaborate, chat, share information either prior / during / after your presentation.

I have been to a few seminars / barcamps / workshops where there's an unofficial backchannel chatting throughout.

I wanted to learn and understand more about how to embrace and make the most of this channel to get the most from facilitating and leading workshops / social media sessions.

Within the technical world, the backchannel has been growing in influence since the rise of Twitter. The backchannel has become mainstream at most large conferences / meet ups / barcamps. As a presenter / facilitator this backchannel will happen with or without you.

If you choose to ignore it, then your credibility as an expert within your field crashes in one hit should anything negative be said about you, without you responding or moderating the conversation.

Anyone who's involved in running workshops / seminars / training / events / membership organisations needs to sit up and listen to what Cliff Atkinson has to say.

Cliff runs through the different models of how to manage the back channel along with some great tools on managing those potential hazardous situations when the virtual back channel collides with the real world.

If you embrace the backchannel and use it effectively, then the likelihood of the virtual and real worlds colliding are minimised. Not only that the back channel can boost your online reputation and credibility. So if you want to boost your ratings....get reading.

What you think about the back channel - what's your experience been?

Leeds Initiative - Have your say in the future of Leeds

Last Monday (22nd February), Martin Dean, Deputy Director, Leeds Initiative joined IoD Members over lunch to discuss The Vision for Leeds 2030.

Leeds Initiative is 'the city’s local strategic partnership. Founded in 1990, we bring together the public, private, community, voluntary and faith sectors to work together to achieve success, encourage improvement, and tackle and overcome problems for the benefit for all citizens now and in the future. In 2004 we published the Vision for Leeds 2004 to 2020, a long-term plan for the ongoing economic, cultural and environmental development of the city.'

The Leeds Arena was one project that came out of the Vision for Leeds 2020 and much much more.

They are now looking ahead to 2030 and the Vision for Leeds. The consultation for this vision already started in June 2009 with the Leeds Initiative Assembly at the Leeds City Museum. Over 120 people participated in the initial discussion. The top 12 issues are now being worked on as the main themes for 2030.

Martin posed 2 questions to the IoD members and guests to discuss over lunch:

1. Sustainability - what are the main issues for business leaders on this
2. Ambition - as leaders in Leeds are we setting the goals high enough, are we ambitious enough, what should the goals be?

We all had an interested and lively debate over lunch, which certainly got the conversation going!

Main feedback:

• More joined up thinking within Leeds City Region on transport
• More joined up thinking on highways maintenance (currently roadworks on main roads in Leeds and commuter routes
• More green spaces in Leeds city centre (think about New York)
• Improve transport to Leeds Bradford airport
• Sustainability from a business perspective -> need to ensure new generation employees have the right skills
• Need to encourage the next generation entrepreneurs and business leaders to drive the vision for Leeds

The IoD has recently joined the Economy and Skills Partnership and will continue to work with Leeds Initiative to ensure the views and concerns of our members are represented in the Vision for Leeds.

What do you think about The Vision For Leeds 2030 - are there any points you want to raise?

Are entrepreneurs and SMEs set to embrace social media more than big business?

I was on the train last Wednesday coming back from the RSA Social Media Surgeries in Sheffield with Rob Greenland.

I have got to know Rob through Twitter and have had various different and interesting conversations. We got talking about how businesses are adopting social media and the types of businesses that are. It got me thinking..............


Are SMEs better set to adopt social media?
Small and medium businesses tend to have the business owner as the main director and influencer in the business. Entrepreneurs and enterprising people take risks (how ever large or small) to set up and grow their businesses. They tend by nature of the fact that they have taken risks to set up their own business and hence have a different attitude towards risk. Which is no bad thing, in fact I think it puts them in good stead for adopting social media.

Adopting social media is about listening, participating, influencing and acting upon the conversations people are having on the various different social media sites about you and your business. Participating, influencing and acting upon this feedback is about risk.

It's about risk and managing it
The more information and views you put out in the public domain, the more chance you will have of people engaging and talking about this information, whether that's good or bad. So the more information, views and commentary you publish into the public domain, the greater the chance of these conversations happening.

For an entrepreneur who's familiar and comfortable with risk taking, progressing and adopting social media will be a natural step forward. As they understand how to evaluate, minimise and respond to risks and the outcomes of the decisions. Not only that as they are still involved in the business they can have a direct influence on the social media strategy and implementation, as they are seen as the voice and front of the business.

Competitive Advantage for SMEs
Not only do they understand risk they also have the advantage that SMEs can be more agile and flexible when it comes to change, as the change process can be driven by the business owner and the change can be implemented reasonably quickly.

Perhaps this social media revolution is being driven forward by the SMEs in the UK rather than by the larger companies and enterprises. Perhaps this social change can bring about a new wave of entrepreneurs and business models that have still to establish themselves.

Now is one of the most exciting times to be in business
Now is one of the most exciting times to be a SME business owner, as social media is giving rise to a new means of doing business and communication.

What do you think? How has your SME business benefited from adopting social media?

Department for Digital Engagement - keeping up with the changes

I've been following Andrew Stott, Director of Digital Engagement on Twitter for sometime.

Taking the digital age to core government and setting best practice for communications and marketing is a job that I am sure we all would admit sounds like hard work.

Engage with me digitally
I have to say though that I have to admit that my expectations have been exceeded, which I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at.

From working with large organisations I know how slow it is to get companies to embrace the new world of customer engagement on the social networks. The trepidation of dipping your toe into the circle of influence sends shivers down the spines of most marketing directors.

I have been following the blog for digital engagement and twitter for some time - I have to say that there really is some interesting stuff happening and being discussed.


Launch of Search Engine Optimisation Guide for Public Sector
Today the Central Office for Information launched their guide to search engine optimisation which is aimed at webmasters in the Public Sector. Having read through it, it reads pretty much like the Google SEO Starter guide but without the techie jargon.


Achieving greatness...
This is part of a wider project around communications on web standards and ensuring that all public sector websites adhere to the same standards. I take my hat off to the team at COI, they have achieved more that perhaps some of the large blue chip organisations do - have an up to date document detailing the company stance on web standards and communications.


Walking the talk... not just talking the talk
Actually walking the talk though is the tricky bit, not just talking the talk. With the imminent launch of the election campaign, I am interested to see how both parties embrace the social media world. If you look at President Olbama's campaign, that was the first electoral campaign that had social media at the heart.

The COI has already set out it's brief on 'engaging through social media' which sets out the stall on how civil servants should be engaging the public through social media.


Anticipation of the next few months
So I wait with anticipation of the next few months on how the electoral campaigns will be led in the social media world. Will they take lessons from the Olbama campaign, will they build on that? One thing I am sure, is that engaging with voters through social media, will play a pivotal role in the election....what do you think?

IoD Just Lunch - Have your say on the Future Economic Development of Leeds

The IoD Young Directors Forum presents 'IoD Just Lunch', a monthly lunchtime event to meet and network with fellow IoD Directors over a two-course lunch provided by the excellent restaurant at 3 Albion Place, the Leeds IoD member facility.

'IoD Just Lunch' will finish at 2pm, but the bar will be open for the remainder of the afternoon for you to stay and network.

Martin Dean, Deputy Director of Leeds Initiative will be joining us for lunch.

The Leeds Initiative is the city’s local strategic partnership. They bring together the public, private, community, voluntary and faith sectors to work together to achieve success, encourage improvement, and tackle and overcome problems for the benefit for all citizens now and in the future.

Martin is keen to get the IoD members input into the economic and skills development of the city.

Members and non members welcome.

Cost (exc VAT):
Member: £23.40
Non-Member: £28.94

Book Online or call Suzanne Foxley on 0113 243 0152