If your supply chain company isn’t active on social media, know that your competitors are. Here are three ways social media can help the supply chain, improving processes and expanding your audiences.
I remember my first supply chain job after college. My boss was stuck on the word “social” and didn’t see any value in social media at the time. He believed that you came to work to be productive and that social media was counterproductive. There was no need for a crossroads between social media and the supply chain.
Fast forward a few years — ok, maybe more than a few — and there are still plenty of supply chain companies that aren’t utilizing social media to help grow their brands. Social networking isn’t about being social; it is about facilitating communication and collaboration, distributing content, and engaging with target audiences. It’s about making processes more efficient using innovative technologies, like automation tools.
[bctt tweet=”Social networking isn’t about being social; it is about facilitating communication and collaboration, distributing content, and engaging with target audiences.” username=”Fronetics”]
As part of a comprehensive content marketing strategy, social media can actually help your supply chain company meet ROI benchmarks. Utilizing social media increases your brand’s visibility and promotes transparency. The distribution of high-quality, thought provoking content will help your target audience see you as an industry leader, which will help you boost sales and increase customer engagement.
Here are three ways social media can help the supply chain improve communication, increase information sharing, and engage with new (and current) customers.
Video: 3 ways social media can help the supply chain
Recommendations
Still apprehensive about diving into social media? Try not to focus on the ‘social’ aspect. Instead, focus on using the tools available through social media platforms as a means to get things done.
Looking to increase leads? Increase engagement with potential customers through content? Find innovative ways to grow your target audiences? Find ways to support these goals through social media.
And if you’re not comfortable in the social media world (we think you need to be), find younger professionals on your team that are. Encourage these employees to find new and exciting opportunities to increase visibility and engagement through social media.
What ways do you think social media can help the supply chain?
LinkedIn is the largest social network for professionals. There are more than 332 million users – and this number is growing rapidly. An average of 2 users joins LinkedIn every second.
There is the perception that LinkedIn is only for job seekers, and that a red flag will be raised if those who are employed update their profile. Neither is accurate.
Here are 6 reasons you need to be on LinkedIn even though you have a job:
Your personal brand matters
People are looking at your LinkedIn profile to learn more about you. And it isn’t just recruiters or potential employers looking on LinkedIn. Clients, colleagues, and even your current employer look to your LinkedIn for information on who you are, what you have done, and what you do.
Networking is often thought of as a (dreaded) job search action item. However, thinking about networking in this manner will leave you at a disadvantage. Networking is an action item necessary for your professional and personal growth.
LinkedIn is an incredible network building tool. Leverage it and “Network your face off.”
Industry groups
Being involved in relevant LinkedIn groups will help you grow your network. It will also help you stay up-to-date on what is happening within your industry, and give you the opportunity to get involved in the conversation.
News
Company and individuals are posting content, and having conversations on LinkedIn every day. These conversations and the content posted are chock full of relevant news.
Be a brand ambassador
Is your company hiring? Share the posting with your connections. Also, take the time to look through your connections; is there anyone who might be a good fit for the position? If so, reach out to them. Bonus: your company may compensate you for referring a candidate if they are hired.
Opportunities
You may not be looking for a new position, but what if the perfect position fell into your lap? If you are active on LinkedIn and have optimized your profile, you may find that people begin reaching out to you and present you with opportunities.
Have a job? Be active on LinkedIn. Not being active is more likely to raise a red flag.
LinkedIn is the largest social network for professionals. There are more than 332 million users – and this number is growing rapidly. An average of 2 users joins LinkedIn every second.
There is the perception that LinkedIn is only for job seekers, and that a red flag will be raised if those who are employed update their profile. Neither is accurate.
Here are 6 reasons you need to be on LinkedIn even though you have a job:
Your personal brand matters
People are looking at your LinkedIn profile to learn more about you. And it isn’t just recruiters or potential employers looking on LinkedIn. Clients, colleagues, and even your current employer look to your LinkedIn for information on who you are, what you have done, and what you do.
Networking is often thought of as a (dreaded) job search action item. However, thinking about networking in this manner will leave you at a disadvantage. Networking is an action item necessary for your professional and personal growth.
LinkedIn is an incredible network building tool. Leverage it and “Network your face off.”
Industry groups
Being involved in relevant LinkedIn groups will help you grow your network. It will also help you stay up-to-date on what is happening within your industry, and give you the opportunity to get involved in the conversation.
News
Company and individuals are posting content, and having conversations on LinkedIn every day. These conversations and the content posted are chock full of relevant news.
Be a brand ambassador
Is your company hiring? Share the posting with your connections. Also, take the time to look through your connections; is there anyone who might be a good fit for the position? If so, reach out to them. Bonus: your company may compensate you for referring a candidate if they are hired.
Opportunities
You may not be looking for a new position, but what if the perfect position fell into your lap? If you are active on LinkedIn and have optimized your profile, you may find that people begin reaching out to you and present you with opportunities.
Have a job? Be active on LinkedIn. Not being active is more likely to raise a red flag.
First impressions are no longer face to face. Rather, a first impression is now comprised of information which can be gathered via a quick search of the Internet. A first impression can be, for example, inclusive of your LinkedIn and Facebook pages, your personal blog, your Instagram page, your Twitter account, your Klout score, your pins on Pinterest, and anything else that may have made itself onto the Internet. Because of this, that 7 seconds you used to have to make a first impression when you enter the room is gone – chances are that the first impression was made long before you arrived. The reality is that when you walk into that room you are likely being evaluated against the first impression that was made prior to your arrival.
In today’s world you are a brand. Like it or not, if you want to be successful you need to not only recognize this reality, but you also need to take steps to build and enhance your brand. Here is how to brand yourself.
1. Define your brand
In short, a brand is a story. What is your story? Take the time to sit down and look at where you have been and where you are. Where you want to be? What is your skill set? What experiences do you have? How are you unique? Take all of this information and knowledge and define your brand – define your story. Be clear, be concise, and be direct. If you can’t define you as a brand in a sentence or two, you have lost an opportunity.
2. Take stock
What information is “out there”? Start by making a list of all the social media accounts you have – even if you no longer actively use them
Next, Google yourself. What do you find? As G.I. Joe says, “Knowing is half the battle.”
3. Define a strategy
At this point you have a brand and you know what information about your brand is publicly available. Is the information enhancing or hurting your brand? What steps can you take to strengthen your brand? For example, should you adjust your privacy settings on some of your accounts so that personal information and exploits are not available for all to see? Does your LinkedIn page need to be updated? If you don’t take the time to define your strategy you will not be able to execute it effectively.
4. Take action
Frank Cavallaro recently wrote about moving from strategy to execution. He wrote: “Strategy is about making choices. Execution is about getting down and dirty so that those choices can produce results.” Don’t stop at creating the strategy – execute. And remember, the Internet is not static. What information about you has been added? Furthermore, it is important to periodically look at your brand. Is it still representative of where are and where you want to be? If not, take the time to re-brand yourself.
When you take the time to brand yourself you have the opportunity to define that first impression.
