In recent times, social media has proved to be a very quick and easy way to promote businesses. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook allow for posting and sharing any news or changes within the company that reach people with a click of a button. There is always going to be an audience at the tips of your fingers, making the growth of your business possible. But there is still the issue of personal use of social media in the workplace.

Is it possible to maximize performance or will it only distract employees? In today’s article, we will be looking at the pros and cons of using social media in the workplace.

The Benefits and Side Effects of Social Media in the Workplace

Pros

• Creates visibility on the market: By using social media, you put your vision out there. You should wholeheartedly make use of the digital era to promote your business and get your brand exposure. Active promotion attracts attention. People will want to interact with you to get in-depth information on the services you provide. Start and maintain a company website or a blog to increase the visibility of your brand and get the word out there.
• It is a useful recruiting tool: Online recruiting sites have proven how easy it is to connect the employer to candidates. A strong social media profile will surely attract the type of candidates you want for your office. Moreover, it is a good platform to observe the commentaries and feedback regarding their experience with the brand. This is always useful information for you to consider for future changes and improvements.
• It can be a part of your marketing strategy: Feedback also extends to reviews on products or services offered by your company. This is another quick and convenient way to access information on your brand and review and remedy a customer complaint. This way, you will gain support and credibility. Moreover, all this information is extremely valuable for your future marketing strategy. By listening to the customers and connecting with them so closely, you will have the perfect idea of what the audience expects from you.
• Faster internal communication: Opting for the use of social media in the workplace is also a way to streamline workflow. You can form groups for your employees and send them announcements, new information and events immediately as they arrive. Employees can also communicate with each other regarding projects and other work-related issues for better management.

Cons

• Time theft: There are instances where the use of social media in the workplace leads to time theft. That is accepting payment for an amount of time that was not put into one’s work. Social media is the leading source of time theft, with productivity going down by 15% when using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and so on.
• Cyber-bulling: The phenomenon of cyber-bullying has unfortunately become very common. If employees suffer from threats and harassment on social media, the HR department must act immediately. Company policies should include prohibiting the cyber-bullying of staff but it is not a foolproof plan.
• Company privacy might be in danger: Information theft is also a major issue with large companies. Employers need to check their privacy settings constantly and decide which information should be visible to the public.

What You Can Do: 2 Tips for a Good Use of Social Media

• Blocking social media altogether is not a solution: Restrictive policies regarding the use of social media is not going to stop the employees from accessing it. Smartphones and personal tablets can still be used and it will only inconvenience you more. It is better to set guidelines dealing with the proper use of social media and establish boundaries at the workplace. Keep it as simple as you can so you can easily understand and apply them.
• Involve employees in social media marketing: Involving your employees in this process will create greater transparency within your company. It will encourage the staff to come up with new ideas that would only benefit the brand. Make sure to offer some kind of training to your employees as a guide to what can be posted in the company’s name and not be damaging or affect the credibility. Establish what is confidential and enforce disciplinary rules if there is a breach in confidentiality.

Logging Out

In the end, social media should be a tool for you to get your brand out there and increase your visibility on the market. It is a great way to gain support and credibility for your business and access audiences easily. By setting proper guidelines to the use of social media, employees will not feel so restricted and will utilize the Internet to the benefit of the company. Social media is also a good way to observe the competition and their marketing strategy and you can also learn from the best and implement the newest ideas.

There is no denying that social media is everywhere so with the proper strategy, there is no reason not to implement this tool and reap the benefits.

Images: depositphotos.com.