It’s challenging to implement new processes or systems within any organization. But, as long as you keep a few things in mind, an Enterprise Social Network provides many benefits that outweigh the initial time investment.
Here are a few tips for helping you make the implementation process smoother:
1. Know your goals. Identify specific business goals that a social platform will support at your organization. Make sure they aren’t just goals for your social media platform, but that these goals will support your business outcomes as well. Make revisions as needed.
2. Communicate with everyone who will use the system. Ensure all your executives and employees know implementation and training dates as well as acceptable use of your social networking platform. Your employees will be excited to use these new tools at work, so help them stay focused on what’s really important – using the tools to support business outcomes.
3. Encourage communication. This sounds like the most obvious tip you could receive, but remember that while many people are already familiar with social media, not all are. Others may believe they are using the social platform correctly, when they’re not. If you encourage communication during the early stages of implementation, people will discuss their mistakes, learn, and be more efficient users over the long run.
4. Implement slowly. No need to have your employees drink from the fire hose on this one – that just causes more long-term difficulties. Instead, use the social platform first in the department you believe could benefit the most. Or, decide which processes will be enhanced most efficiently and begin implementation there. Once you have some of the wrinkles ironed out, then you can add more people across your organization into the mix.
5. Control access. Only provide people with the access to what they actually need. For example, if you only want your PR team managing your Twitter and Facebook campaign, only give them access to these streams from your enterprise social network. Make sure everyone who needs access to certain areas of your enterprise social network has it, but also make sure necessary restrictions are made as well. It will save a ton of time and hassle once you have their access fine-tuned.
Like implementing any other software program, enterprise social networking has its challenges. Once it has been installed and configured, you’ll be ready to start reaping the benefits that social networks offer. So keep these tips in mind when you begin your rollout.
Interested in a private social network for your organization? Contact tibbr today for a free enterprise social network trial.
