One of the biggest issues with companies and social media is that they are scared. Someone needs to lead the charge. I feel that it should be led and strategized by the PR or communications organization. Now while I say lead this should not be taken as something that can be done alone.

Trust me, it is OK to ask for help.

It is also ignorant to think that social media only touches one aspect of a company. Places like customer service, investor relations and marketing immediately come to mind, but there are many more.

Aside from letting go and ceding some control to others, the biggest issue that I know have is making sure others follow the unwritten rules of the space. Not to mention the rule of not being dumb.

So how do we do this?

Very carefully, holding hands and education of employees interested in the space. It takes time and is a scary proposition, but in the end can be truly beneficial for the organization. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking of methods of training and looking at a lot of presentations on education in the space. I have borrowed from some, but hadn’t found one that really got to the point and kept me engage. That was until I came across this gem from Gia Lyons from August 2009. It’s short, sweet and to the point. Hopefully it helps shape the way you look at education – I learned a lot from it.

One of the biggest issues with companies and social media is that they are scared. Someone needs to lead the charge. I feel that it should be led and strategized by the PR or communications organization. Now while I say lead this should not be taken as something that can be done alone.

Trust me, it is OK to ask for help.

It is also ignorant to think that social media only touches one aspect of a company. Places like customer service, investor relations and marketing immediately come to mind, but there are many more.

Aside from letting go and ceding some control to others, the biggest issue that I know have is making sure others follow the unwritten rules of the space. Not to mention the rule of not being dumb.

So how do we do this?

Very carefully, holding hands and education of employees interested in the space. It takes time and is a scary proposition, but in the end can be truly beneficial for the organization. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking of methods of training and looking at a lot of presentations on education in the space. I have borrowed from some, but hadn’t found one that really got to the point and kept me engage. That was until I came across this gem from Gia Lyons from August 2009. It’s short, sweet and to the point. Hopefully it helps shape the way you look at education – I learned a lot from it.

One of the biggest issues with companies and social media is that they are scared. Someone needs to lead the charge. I feel that it should be led and strategized by the PR or communications organization. Now while I say lead this should not be taken as something that can be done alone.

Trust me, it is OK to ask for help.

It is also ignorant to think that social media only touches one aspect of a company. Places like customer service, investor relations and marketing immediately come to mind, but there are many more.

Aside from letting go and ceding some control to others, the biggest issue that I know have is making sure others follow the unwritten rules of the space. Not to mention the rule of not being dumb.

So how do we do this?

Very carefully, holding hands and education of employees interested in the space. It takes time and is a scary proposition, but in the end can be truly beneficial for the organization. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking of methods of training and looking at a lot of presentations on education in the space. I have borrowed from some, but hadn’t found one that really got to the point and kept me engage. That was until I came across this gem from Gia Lyons from August 2009. It’s short, sweet and to the point. Hopefully it helps shape the way you look at education – I learned a lot from it.

One of the biggest issues with companies and social media is that they are scared. Someone needs to lead the charge. I feel that it should be led and strategized by the PR or communications organization. Now while I say lead this should not be taken as something that can be done alone.

Trust me, it is OK to ask for help.

It is also ignorant to think that social media only touches one aspect of a company. Places like customer service, investor relations and marketing immediately come to mind, but there are many more.

Aside from letting go and ceding some control to others, the biggest issue that I know have is making sure others follow the unwritten rules of the space. Not to mention the rule of not being dumb.

So how do we do this?

Very carefully, holding hands and education of employees interested in the space. It takes time and is a scary proposition, but in the end can be truly beneficial for the organization. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking of methods of training and looking at a lot of presentations on education in the space. I have borrowed from some, but hadn’t found one that really got to the point and kept me engage. That was until I came across this gem from Gia Lyons from August 2009. It’s short, sweet and to the point. Hopefully it helps shape the way you look at education – I learned a lot from it.