TheSocialBusinessGuide

Social BusinessThe term “Social Business” describes the permeation of social technologies through all aspects of a business:

• From external to internal communications and knowledge sharing

• From employees communicating and working with each other, with partners and customers from innovation management to customer support

A truly social business embraces social technologies on all levels

• To boost employee and customer satisfaction• To improve work flows, processes and knowledge sharing

• To remain an attractive employer in the future

Some Numbers

70% of all companies worldwide already use

one form of social technology, 90% of those give positive feedback

Knowledge workers spend 28 hours per week with emails, searching for

information and collaboration

More than 1.5 Billion users of social networks

8 Steps to Social Business Success1. Define the WHY

2. Make it a culture thing

3. Leading by example

4. Create a social governance model

5. Decide on the right tools

6. Give Internal Communications the social overhaul

7. Enable the people (especially your CEO)

8. Show your employees you mean (social) business

Define the WHYWhat goals do you want to reach?

• Improved productivity• Improved employee satisfaction

• More efficient editorial processes for internal and external communications• Improved customer support and customer satisfaction

Make it a culture thing Social technologies require a certain mindset to unlock their full potential. Often their rollout is more of a change management than sole IT project.

You have to make sure your company culture is compatible with what you‘re trying to achieve.

Leading by exampleFor your company to really take off as a social business, you need everyone

on board. That includes the base as well as your top management.

Make sure you have your full management support and that your CEO and top management are leading by example.

Create a social governance modelA truly social business is one that embraces social technologies on all levels.

You need to create a social governance model that integrates all these different areas and formulates a

holistic social strategy for your company.

Decide on the right tools Which tools to use depends on what you want to achieve

and where your company stands technologically.

It‘s important to thorougly test before you buy and make sure to involve all parties in the decision.

Give Internal Communications the social overhaul

Internal communications is the lighthouse function within your company that can make or break the adaptation of

your social business strategy.

Within a social business, the internal communications function shifts more towards management than sole editor

of internal news. So make your internal communications fit for social.

Enable the people (especially your CEO)

While most of your employees will use a social network in their private lives, you still need to educate and enable

them on how they should use social technologies for the benefit of your company.

That means training sessions for everyone, first and foremost your top management.

Show your employees you mean(social) business

Actions speak louder than words: Show your employees that your social business strategy is here to stay.

Make sure you shift important processes and information to the new technologies.

There‘s an uncomfortable topic that needs communicating? Have your CEO available for a truly social live Q&A session on your social platform rather

than send out an email.

Contact UsAnnabelle Atchison

Directorannabelle.atchison@33-digital.com

Franziska-Bilek-Weg 9 | 80339 MünchenD: +49 89 244 14 3304 M: +49 171 4310437