Is A Status Update Worth Losing a Job?

In the book, Engage, I read about individuals who were fired because they complained about clients through social media. Since this isn’t professional and it reflects poorly on the brand, it makes complete sense for them to have been terminated. However, I can’t help but wonder the context of these comments; because if it was typical gossip, that every employee takes part in, if the punishment was unjust.

It is standard knowledge that companies and bosses check their employees Facebook and Twitter accounts. However, I think that some (younger) employees can push the envelope to see what they can get away with on-line by posting party pictures or even rude comments about the company. And I wonder since so many users are already accustomed to posting just about everything they like and dislike, and could possibly forget that they are being monitored and make a nasty comment. The question is: should an employee be fired over one comment?

I think it depends on the situation. If the employee is directly tied to the company then yes, something will need to be done as soon as possible in order to protect the company. However if it someone who probably made one mistake (because they were having a bad day) and is low on the corporate chain, then I feel like that punishment would be too harsh. Personally, I don’t know which is right. All I know is that I wouldn’t want to be fired over something I posted, so I always try not to publish anything that I will regret later.

The New Media University

As the presence of social media grows, so has organization participation. According to Brian Solis in his book, Engage, “building and organizing a social media program can be incredibly powerful.” However, creating a presence on a social media site can be difficult; because information flows both ways and that customer engagement must be earned. In chapter 4, the author examines how organizations should utilize the following media: Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis, and Virtual Worlds.

Blogs:

According to a report conducted by Forrester Research, corporate blogs were at the bottom of the credibility list. “Only 16% of consumers who read corporate blogs admitted to trusting them” (Solis, 41). I do not find these findings to be particularly surprising; since I would expect a company’s blog to be filled with marketing materials (such as press releases) in order to get me to buy their products. Also, I don’t think that a company blog would engage with their audience, because that’s what the customer support team is for.  Solis states that in order for a blog to receive recognition, it needs to not only post relevant information for the customer but also needs to link to other sites, and comment on other blogs. One blog that he highlights is Southwest Airlines. This is because it exhibits the company’s fun attitude and also posts relevant information about the company and information about their frequent flyers.  This gives the blog a personal touch, and ultimately leads to its success.

Podcasts:

Podcasts are an easy way to provide company information to your customers, because they are portable and can be placed on websites. This medium has been growing in awareness and use by the public and allows a company to discuss just about anything. A few of the podcasts that I listen to on a daily basis are the “New York Times Front Page” and “Marketplace”. This is because it is a quicker way to keep up with current events, while I’m rushing to class.

Wikis:

“One of the most successful and influential websites in existence is a wiki” (Solis, 47). We all know how wikis function, due to Wikipedia, users can upload and edit information though any web-browser. Wiki pages are highly influential for a company because a customer will likely read a wiki entry first; the first result on most Google searches will be the Wikipedia entry. Of course, this can be a problem for companies because users who have strong opinions against the company will likely post biased information. Therefore, a company needs to watch what is being posted and make corrections when necessary.

Virtual Worlds:

A virtual world, such as Second Life, creates a new environment for the user. Some brands pay for product placement in these worlds, whereas some are trying to create their own unique programs. For example, IMB has a green data center in Second Life, this connects users to the brand and builds a relationship with them through a real staff of employees.

Listening to the audience

If there is one piece of knowledge that I think is essential to social media: it is how social media has changed the direction of information. Now, information travels from the customer to the company. And it has made all the difference. This can be seen

In chapter 1 of Engage by Brian Solis, he illustrates the importance to listening to an audience. Even if a company wasn’t a part of a discussion, it still happened. For instance, the twitter storm that was created from the KC scandal would have still happened even if KC didn’t respond. Therefore, it is more important now, than ever before, for a company to monitor what influencers are saying about them. Because now, Twitter storms can be created within hours, this is a record pace that most companies are not used to or even ready for.