April 25, 2014
To CEOs who aren’t yet posting on social media: You’re not alone. Fewer than 6 percent of CEOs in a recent study use Twitter and less than 8 percent use Facebook. Sure, 28 percent have LinkedIn accounts, but fewer than one in five of these super-networked people have over 500 connections. Signed up doesn’t mean participating.
Social media participation is inevitable among CEOs because, unless you’re about to retire, you’re increasingly going to be drawn to it by important stakeholders. For most of you, the challenge will be how to get started.
Twitter is a great first step. It’s easy to do, doesn’t demand a huge time investment and can generate the immediate reactions that will reinforce the benefits of participation.
Finally, here’s a piece of advice from Richard Branson, a highly social CEO: “Be authentic and organic. It can’t be forced or it won’t work. And most importantly, have fun.” Having posted over 5,000 tweets, he’s figured out how to make it part of his routine and clearly recognizes the benefit. Someday you will, too.
Want to talk about it? Give me a call at 216-241-4615 or shoot me a note.
