Social networking provides opportunities for social interaction and community building through user-generated content. Its use is widespread, with half of Americans using sites like Facebook and three-quarters of online consumers visiting social media sites. Time spent on social networks is growing three times faster than overall internet use. For employers, social media can boost retention by giving employees flexibility and opportunities to see business uses. It also enables internal communication and collaboration. Employers can use social media to build their brand and market their company by allowing employees to promote their work. However, employers must handle negative comments professionally without arguing and apply customer service principles.

1. The Pros and Cons of Social Networking
SNHRA (Southern Nevada Human Resources Association)
July 2010
Cheryl Bella, Co-Presenter

2. What Tools Have in Common
 Using technology for social interaction – sharing &
discussing
 Provide opportunities to build communities
 Incorporate or are based on user-generated content

3. Who Uses Social Media?
 2009 - Half of Americans using Facebook, MySpace
or Twitter
 75% of all global consumers who go online visit
social networking and blog sites
 Social networking profiles by Baby Boomers
increased 15% from 2008-2009
 77% of millennials maintain social networking
profile

4. Time spent on social networks is
growing THREE times as fast as
time spent online

5. Will it Affect You?
 Recent reports:
 80% of respondents stated use of social media for
“learning” within their organizations will increase
over next three years
 95% of respondents believed social media would
change HR’s role

7. A generic job posting will get a generic
employee. If a company is only
recruiting through the major job
boards, they’re probably not a
company you want to work for.
A Millennial’s perspective

13. Uses of Social Media During Employment
 Retention
 From May 2010 survey: 79 percent of respondents stated being
trusted to manage their own time and access to Internet more
important than job role and pay
 Those who grew up online much more comfortable seeing
business opportunities for social media

14. Uses of Social Media During Employment
 Internal Communication
 Social media offers two-way communication
 Includes everyone in the conversation
 Enables true collaboration
 Great tools for bringing disparate parties together remotely
 Blogs, message boards, wikis, tagging sites, etc.

17. Uses of Social Media During Employment
 Marketing Your Company
 Building your brand
 Provides new way to communicate with your customers,
clients, the public, etc.
 Includes others in the discussion about your company

23. Uses of Social Media During Employment
 Employees are Your Best Ambassadors
 Let them show off what they’re doing
 Scribd, Slideshare
 Let them talk about the company on social media platforms
 Assign individuals to monitor social media sites for mention of
your company and respond

24. Handling Negative Comments
http://moblogsmoproblems.blogspot.com

25. Handling Negative Comments
 Don’t enter into an argument
 Can take off-line
 Stay factual
 Correct misinformation
 Apply basic customer service skills
 People just need to vent
 Recognize & acknowledge your evangelists