Should Social Networking on Facebook Be Allowed in the Office?

Facebook. Twitter. Foursquare.

Walk through the office and I bet you'll spot one of your colleagues updating their status.

Is this a good thing?

Many in management would argue this is a colossal waste of time and ask what good could come out of their employees aimlessly socializing on these time sucking networks?

Before yesterday, I have to admit I was on the fence when it came to answering that question.

But, I am fortunately writing this post from the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival (I better update my Facebook and Twitter!) where I attended a seminar held by IBM and Euro RSCG 4D. And, now I'm convinced social networking in the office is time well-spent.

Why? Social Media is all about "accelerating business," according to Euro RSCG 4D's George Gallate.

How so you ask? Here's my takeaway from yesterday's seminar:

1) Watch your competitors
In the past, you had to invest a ton of time and energy on the ground. Today, by becoming "friends" with a competitor, it's so much easier to keep an eye on the competition. Simple status and location updates is sometimes all you need to make a conclusion about your rival's next big move!

2) Prospecting Gets Easier
If you're looking for new business, look no further than social media. With many customers openly asking for advice on products and services on places like Facebook, there's a prospect revolution going on -- especially in the business-to-business world where "marketing is based on trust, networking and a one-to-one relationship," said IBM's Ben Edwards.

3) Gather Customer Feedback
"Your employees are your ambassadors in social," says Euro RSCG 4D's, Sander Volten. And, "they can connect with insiders and outsiders, foster conversations, and listen to what's being said about your company and products."

Volten adds, "You should encourage them to actively engage in them. That's something different than them playing 'mafia wars' all day long."

Bottom Line: Socializing on networks in the workplace is key for your company's long-term success!

What do you think? Leave your thoughts below.

Mark Pasetsky is the managing editor of OK! Magazine. He also is the founder and editorial director of CoverAwards.com, where he writes about the media and marketing industry.

 

Follow Mark Pasetsky on Twitter: www.twitter.com/coverawards

Comments

[Hertfordshire Web Design]

08:28 AM on 07/02/2010

The difficulty would be identifying when someone is using social media in a way that will benefit your business and when they are just socialising with friends.

[Vandenbroek]

08:23 AM on 06/22/2010

For the past 18-months I've been experimenting with Facebook as an avenue of promotion for my Internet radio station. Without going into details, social networking can be a good thing as long as a rogue element doesn't enter into the environment. However, once a rogue element infects the network, it can kill the project about 100-times faster than it took to get "fans." More traditional methods of networks offer a firewall that, sadly, social networking sites cannot provide.

[kellybriefworld]

11:48 AM on 06/24/2010

As a young employee I can’t imagine working long hours without the use of social media. On the other hand, I completely understand why my boss would block me from seeing what’s new with my friends on facebook all the time is unproductive. The problem with blocking these applications is that we are seeing more and more benefits to social media use. That’s why I believe some wasteful parts of social media should be blocked and some parts of social media should be accessible. I found a whitepaper written by Palo Alto Networks, and they have a new software that does exactly this. Here’s a link to it: http://bit.ly/bsrh9CFacebook Enjoy!

[mhughes]

07:57 AM on 06/22/2010

Er, anyone know what this mumbo jumbo means? The fact is real business professionals aren't going to give away important information on websites, Anyone who maintains that idling away their time on Facebook is imporrtant for their work is talking nonsense!

[seanrnicholson]

06:14 PM on 06/21/2010

Social Media absolutely has a place in the workplace, but it's going to take some time for our workplace to shift to using it in a meaningful, productive way. Just as email and Web access were timesinks for employees at first, the value of social media, the connections it creates, and the knowledge it shares will become beneficial to employees and employers. As I mentionin a recent blog post, the sooner that corporate leaders start to explore the value of social media, the sooner they will realize the benefit.

Attention Corporate Executives! Your Time For Social Media Leadership Is Now!
http://www.intranetexperience.com/ourblog/2010/04/attention-corporate-executives-your-time-for-social-media-leadership-is-now/

--Sean
@seanrnicholson

[Paul Russell]

03:41 PM on 06/21/2010

Some, yes but for many, no

For some offices, they are mandatory for talking to new customers. For others, it is simply playing around on company time.

I would say 75% of my friends on facebook at work are doing so b/c they are bored and/or want to just browse the net....with no work in mind

[Chris Hayes 2]

03:02 PM on 06/21/2010

insightful article. i do go on linkedin a few times a day while on work as it's a b2b venue but with facebook this is much more of my personal space so really only visit in evenings and weekends.