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Business Communications >Unit 03 >Chapter 05 >Navigating Social Networking for Business

Navigating Social Networking for Business

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Author: Ryan Smith

Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are used by businesses much in the same way that blogs, podcasts, and wikis are. Social networking sites provide a platform for businesses to connect with customers and employees, share news, exchange ideas, and build networks. As a professional, you will need to understand how to harness the power of social networking to promote your career and your organization.

Which of the following tips for using social networks will help you keep your job?

  • Only send personal emails when you are done sending professional emails.
  • Download only free software to company computers.
  • Separate work and personal data.

View Explanation

Many organizations use social networking in positive ways to harness the power of online communities. Companies use networks like Facebook and Twitter to connect with customers and create buzz. As an employee, however, you need to use social networks professionally and responsibly to safeguard your job. A key tip for maintaining your professional image is to separate work and personal data. Keep information that could embarrass you or expose you to legal liability on your personal storage devices, on hard drives, or in the cloud, never on your office computer. Never download free software and utilities to company machines. Employees can unwittingly introduce viruses, phishing schemes, and other cyber bugs. Avoid sending personal e-mails, instant messages, or texts from work. Even if your company allows personal use during lunch or after hours, keep it to a minimum. Better yet, wait to use your own electronic devices away from work.

Social online communities for professional audiences, such as LinkedIn, are excellent sources for  .

View Explanation

Social online communities for professional audiences (e.g., LinkedIn), help recruiters find talent and encounter job candidates before hiring them. Today, LinkedIn occupies the No. 1 spot as 99 percent of businesses use the platform for business networking and recruiting. Professional networking sites don't often include many collaboration or photo-sharing features. Instead, they are designed to help professionals make business connections.

Read the scenario, and then answer the question.

Xochi is a corporate PR consultant. She must monitor multiple information sources to search for employees and needs to enable workers to tag, follow, and view activity feeds.

What tool should Xochi use to search and manage this information?

  • Social bookmarking
  • Enterprise social media network
  • Blogs

View Explanation

The advantage of enterprise social media networks is that they are searchable, enabling workers to tag, follow, view activity feeds, and more. Users can access and send information more efficiently than by e-mail alone. Blogs will not help Xochi search through many sites for information. However, if there is a blog that Xochi would like to follow, she can subscribe to its RSS feed for updates. Social bookmarking is not useful for Xochi since she monitors information. Social bookmarks provide an easy way to link and share content.

What are the risks of social networking for businesses? Check all that apply.

  • Violations of privacy laws
  • Lost productivity
  • Damaging employee posts
  • Viral marketing

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