Yesterday I was fortunate for the opportunity to provide the morning keynote on Employment Branding for Collaborate 2010 – the first Jobs2Web user conference.  I enjoyed sharing the stage with a group of forward thinking practitioners and industry giants Lou Adler and J2W founder Doug Berg.  I also couldn’t help but marvel at the astounding level of engagement, open sharing, synergy and success during this event.  Collaborate was truly the perfect theme!

Jobs2Web continues to push the envelope on strategy, innovation and results for progressive organizations serious about leveraging technology and intelligence to Recruit Better. This week it was exciting to listen and learn about the powerful ROI they are delivering.  Client presentations from Yum Brands, Microsoft, Lifetime Fitness and Mayo Clinic validated Jobs2Web as both a powerful business partner and clear industry leader.  They continue to set the pace for delivering innovative Web 2.0 (or 3.0?) recruitment marketing solutions.

One of the most exciting client projects I’ve worked on in my new consultancy has been the Jobs2Web brand, unveiled this week at the user conference. I think the message platform and marketing tools resonated with the community in a compelling way!  I will post a more complete case study in the near future but in the interim, here are two video’s our team produced in partnership with Jobs2Web.

Great week!  Congratulations J2w!

Posted in Brand, Recruiting, Social Media, Uncategorized

This article contribution from Susan Borowski, SPHR was originally published in the June issue of Bottom Line HR, a J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. publication.

The world has changed with the explosion of social media. Consider these statistics: Reports show that it took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users; for TV, 13 years; the Internet, 4 years; and the iPod, 3 years. Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months; and iPhone applications reached 1 billion in 9 months.

Social media affects business in several ways. It affects a company’s brand, its transparency, its customer service, and how the world perceives the organization.

Social media and branding

Not long ago, business defined and strengthened their brand and made sure it was perceived as they wanted it to be. Branding was a “top-down” phenomenon. Enter social media, which is in a position to affect a business’s brand globally – and not necessarily in a positive way. Do you know what is being said about your business in the Blogoshpere? The Twittersphere? You should. A recent poll of Human Resources practitioners showed that only eight percent were using Twitter.

Ryan Estis, Professional Speaker, Business Performance Consultant, and expert on HR and social media, says that a company’s brand used to be what the company said it was. Today, it’s what everybody says it is. “Everyone has a megaphone, a platform, and a media outlet. Companies no longer control their brand – they only influence it. Where branding used to be a monologue, now it’s a conversation – a conversation that companies can’t control.”

Where decisions are made

In 2009, a global Nielsen study reported that recommendations from friends and acquaintances as well as opinions posted by consumers online were the most trusted forms of advertising – not a company’s PR department, and not its website. This being the case, if consumers are reading on social media about the poor customer service someone received from your company, it won’t matter what you say to promote your brand – consumers will tend to believe the individual who received poor customer service and blogged or tweeted about it. Anyone who is researching a company to make a decision whether to buy its products or services and who finds several reports of negative consumer experiences is likely to look elsewhere for those products and services.

Google search results now include tweets, which aren’t necessarily filtered, so negative tweets about your company could come up in a search, as well as rants on blogs or websites such as Job Vent. This site allows individuals to rant about their place of employment and ranks companies based on the comments it receives.

How social media is changing

If you believe Twitter consists only of people talking about what they had for lunch or what they just bought, you are not alone. However, what occurred after the June 2009 Iranian presidential election serves to demonstrate the true power and ubiquity of social media. After the presidential election results were announced, many citizens who believed the process was rigged took to the streets in protest in Tehran and other cities. The government censored the media so the world wouldn’t see the protests. But the word got out anyway, primarily through Twitter. The effect was so powerful and so striking that this historical event has been called the “Twitter Revolution.” Our global society is as interconnected as it has ever been, and is becoming more connected each day.

Estis says, “HR must realize that social media has gone from a novelty to a functional business tool. “ According to Estis, only 26 percent of companies have a social media policy; of those that do, 50 percent ban access to social media at work. Nevertheless, even if banned on employees’ computers, social media comes to work on employees’ smartphones. So the question, according to Estis, is not whether to allow social media into the workplace, but how best to channel it for positive results. Because HR connects stakeholders to organizational culture, HR can take the lead on using social media to the organization’s advantage.

Social media as a business tool

Estis suggests that companies begin with the end in mind. What’s the business objective? Connecting international groups? Using social media for customer service? Once your objective is defined, he suggests that you learn about the various tools (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, FriendFeed, etc.) and how they can help you achieve that objective.

Expecting social media savvy

Estis says that some companies are encouraging employees to use social media to further the business. At EMC², social media savvy is expected. Employees blog, tweet, produce podcasts and YouTube videos, share information on forums, and more. Granted, it’s an IT company, but IT companies are not the only ones using social media technology.

Best Buy has developed a service on Twitter called “Twelpforce,” through which the company interfaces with customers (and potential customers) in real time. Through this service, the company encourages employees to answer questions about products, proved customer service, assistance, and ideas. The service helps drum up business by answering their questions or helping them find a solution. Employees’ tweets are not hidden, but posted publicly on Best Buy’s website. It doesn’t get more transparent than that. Says Estis, “transparency equals trust.”

The future of social media

What does the future hold in this rapidly-changing arena? Estis sees more companies turning to geo targeting, which involves knowing the physical location of a web visitor and delivering marketing content to that web visitor based on his or her location (i.e., suggesting stores, products, and services, based on what’s available in the area). This targeted approach is improving click-through rates for internet marketing.

The next level of social media involves location-sharing services like Foursquare and Gowalla. These are used on a mobile phone, and allow users to combine their address book, Facebook, and Twitter accounts to find out if any friends are nearby. Users check in based on their GPS location, then leave tips on deals, meals, and experiences they have in that area. They can check out tips from friends and other users, get suggestions on where to go, and find recommendations for things to do.

Foursquare also adds a competitive gaming aspect by encouraging users to earn points and unlock badges. Location-sharing services like Foursquare add an opportunity for retail-based businesses to tap into a new network by providing deals only to those using the application – and some businesses are doing just that. Foursquare has grown so much in popularity since it was introduced last year that it has been called “next year’s Twitter” by CNN.

Finally, to those who would say that Twitter is a passing fad (remember MySpace?), Estis points out that the specific tool is not what’s important; being in the domain is. “Participation drives relevancy,” he affirms.

Social media has become an extremely powerful tool, and it’s not going away. Social media can impact customer relations, your reputation, your message, and your brand. Savvy businesses will recognize the power of social media and use it to their advantage.

Posted in Brand, Communications, Social Media

Tags: Human Resources

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak at the 2010 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International  Resort Business Summit this week in W. Palm Beach, Florida.  It was an Association event filled with an extraordinary amount of community and camaraderie, evidence of a leadership commitment in an industry that is defined by customer service and quality relationships.

Although I was brought in as a Subject Matter Expert to present Sales 2.0 & Social Media Strategy I am quite certain I learned as much as I shared about networking and connections.

In speaking about Social Selling I am quick to point out several key considerations:

-Define your objective and determine the right strategy

-The trend is more important than the tool

-Social Media is not a replacement for relationships but rather an acceleration and expansion platform that can aid in sharing your unique story with your audience (you need to have a story….and an audience).

The Social Secret is that it’s still all about the quality of the relationship.  That hasn’t changed.  And that is something that HSMAI and its membership get straight away.

I was welcomed by a group of open sharers who have fostered strong relationships built around a common interest in identifying best practices and earning more business through delivering an experience consistent with expectations.   That builds trust and loyalty.  And drives Word of Mouth that can accelerate and advance growth in spite of revenue pressure that is surely a sign of the times.  This week would serve as an excellent case study in how to run a best practices forum for other industries.

I was also able to enjoy an invaluable research/trends report by industry linchpin Cindy Estis Green and an exhilarating keynote from Futurist Micheal Tchong.  Bravo!  I suppose the notion that I am authoring this post 40,000 feet above the ground on a Delta flight with WiFi is consistent with the trend of accelerated innovation and change that was such a theme this week.

I always embrace the opportunity to make new and meaningful professional connections.  I hope my contribution this week offered as much value as I received.

Having an abundance of awesome options to consider for my next R&R get away is never a bad thing either!

Here is my preso on Social Selling:

Posted in Sales, Social Media, Uncategorized

Tags: Hospitality, HSMAI, Sales Training

This Spring is providing a variety of opportunities for the HR community in my hometown to conference and connect around some terrific content!

April 13th is the HRP of MN Spring Conference.  I’ll be opening the conference with Employment Branding 2.0 and plan to stick around all day for two outstanding additional sessions and the panel discussion to close out the confernece!  The event will focus on Post Recession Strategies (REgroup – REtain – REcruit) and should prove to be a great opportunity to connect with leaders in our local HR community.

May 12 is the TCHRA Spring Conference.  Keeping with the recovery and reinvention theme, ‘Leveraging Human Capital During the Economic Recovery’ there is a special opportunity to see a dynamic national speaker take the stage and keynote this event.  Simon Bailey is outstanding!  I recently had the pleasure of spending a little time with Simon after we both presented at NOHRC in my hometown of Cleveland.  He is as brilliant and authentic off the stage as he is on.  I can tell you his message is relevant for this time of transformation and includes a powerful blend of inspirational and actionable content.   You don’t want to miss Simon!

May 17 the ERE Social Recruiting Summit will be held at Best Buy in Minneapolis where some of the leading national players leveraging social media for talent acquisition will descend on the Twin Cities for the one day event.  If your focus is recruiting this is a can’t miss opportunity to learn from a think tank of strong, national practitioners doing exciting work!

Look forward to seeing some old friends, familiar faces and making new connections in the Twin Cities this Spring!

Posted in Brand, Recruiting, Social Media

Tags: Human Resources

I had coffee this week with one of the strongest practitioners in the Employment Branding space, Heather Polivka at UnitedHealth Group. Heather is a great example of the Marketing meets HR competency needed to get effective Employment Brand strategy the top down support and traction necessary to have some significant long term impact on the business. What kind of impact?

-Increase in hew hire satisfaction
-Increase in Hiring Manager satisfaction
-Significant reduction in recruitment marketing spend
-Dynamic and growing talent networks through the recently launched social media strategy

The foundation of this  2 year journey was based on a significant research and discovery initiative to determine the unique, differentiated and compelling EVP that now serves as a foundation for all of the tactical deployment and communication both inside and outside the organization.  Driving consistency across such a large and complex organization is both a significant undertaking and accomplishment.

Her extraordinary work effort and contribution to her own employer is being recognized by Electronic Recruiting Exchange where UHG is a finalist for Best Employment Brand (winner to be announced during the upcoming Spring ERE Expo).

I am sorry I won’t be in San Diego to witness the well deserved recognition firsthand but enjoyed Heather’s insights and perspective this morning around how she has achieved success, the recently deployed UHG social strategy and what is coming next!  Her words of wisdom follow:

Posted in Brand, Communications, Recruiting, Social Media

Do you need Social Media to be successful?  In your job?  As a business?  The answer is, it depends.

I have a very close personal friend who is extraordinarily successful.  By all accounts.  He owns his own business.  And owns his time.  He is financially independent and works because he loves what he does, not because he has too.  He also chooses who he works with and has built his business with partners, colleagues and clients he counts among his closest friends. He has terrific balance, perspective and never fails to take time to enjoy life and share it with those closest to him.  And he is very generous with his time and resources.

He doesn’t have a Twitter, Facebook or Linked In Account.  He doesn’t need them.  Not in his business.  And not in his personal life.  His secret to success?  Having some insider perspective, I’d say its the quality of his relationships.  He loves the phone and face to face meetings.  He is heavy on email but doesn’t let too much time pass without a real conversation among those in his circle of influence.  Because that builds a much deeper connection than he could with 140 characters.  That doesn’t interest him.  What does is meaningful, trusted relationships that have reciprocal value for years.  A more narrow universe of quality, coveted and nurtured relationships. He doesn’t want to be famous.  He wants to be fulfilled.  For him that is doing what he loves, with people he loves, his own way.

Conversely, I realize value from participating in my expanding social structure everyday.  I am invested because it’s afforded me opportunity, insights and introductions that without participating I otherwise wouldn’t have received.  But the secret to making it successful isn’t all that different.  The secret is still in the relationships.  And personally and professionally I have found tremendous value in and opportunity to expedite relationships that begin online, in my social universe and move beyond.  And certainly for the work I do it keeps me in touch, informed and able to offer my own ideas related to how new tools and technology can impact a business.

Time is a precious resource and determining where to invest will usually impact your outcomes as a company or in your career.  New tools and technology, when leveraged appropriately and efficiently can provide tremendous value.  Every business and every individual needs to determine the opportunity cost of how and where to spend it. And that should get determined by staying aligned to your outcome objective.  Begin with the end in mind.  And that certainly applies for a Social Strategy as well.

The secret is the relationship.

Posted in Communications, Social Media

Had the fortunate opportunity to connect over coffee this week with the braintrust at The A List.  A great conversation with A Players and all around sourcing/staffing pro’s, JP Winkler and Raghav Singh about the trend line in recruiting, social media and their plans for 2010.  I hadn’t had the opportunity to catch up with Raghav since we recorded an ERE Podcast on Social Media earlier in the year and he always offers an insightful perspective on the industry.  If you want to follow a powerful voice with BIG ideas about the future of HR, Recruiting and Social Media Raghav’s writing is well worth the read.

Posted in Recruiting, Social Media