That all depends, but it's a damn good question that Chris Twyman, Founder and CEO of Zapoint, asked at HRmarketer's first-ever CEO Networking Series in Boston, MA.
Tim Clifford, CEO and Founder of Workscape, was our very gracious host in a magical winter wonderland.
For me, that is. I don't have to live in snow like our Direct of Sales Rita Jackson does. I made her drive. (She's an amazing driver and a special thank you goes out to her brilliant organizing of this first of many future networking events.)
We were fortunate to have 13 captains of HR industry attend (my lucky number -- you can find them all below). I gave a presentation on social media and the business value therein, and I must admit, my apprehension elevated.
It's one thing to participate fully in social media, write and promote an eBook on the subject, blog about it regularly, give virtual workshops on it to the marketing teams of Sage and Thomas International, and talk regularly to HRmarketer clients and prospects about it.
But it's quite another to talk to 13 C-level execs about it face to face.
The good news? I did good (and learned what to improve on for the next one). The better news? The attendees spent quality time networking and exchanging ideas. The even better news? Over half the esteemed attendees are participating more and more in social media on behalf of their organizations, falling in line with my on-the-fly HR supplier survey I did last month:
- Over 50% of social media participants are CEO's, business owners and executive management.
The bestest news of all? We facilitated some great discussion including Chris's question at the top of this post (of course he didn't phrase it that way).
When does blogging and other social media activities translate to new business? Where's the tipping point?
It depends, but everyone agreed that social media is a viable marketing communications channel to:
- Thought leadership
- Share original content and news
- Share other's content and news
- Network and relationship build
- Listen and learn
- Facilitate better communication within their organization and without (creating brand ambassadors)
Social collaboration tools and services can also help with lead-nurturing programs and customer service (more on these soon).
And what have I said before? Fueling the face-to-face fire -- the innate calling to gather, meet and collaborate around similar ideas -- one of the oldest call-to-actions of the business world.
A very special thank you to:
- Our Host: Tim Clifford, CEO and Founder, Workscape
- Tim Driver, CEO, RetirementJobs.com
- Jim Flanagan, Business Development, BeneTemps
- Eric Friedman, Founder and President, eSkill
- Adam Goldberg, Founder and CEO, EnCompass Education Solutions
- Sam Gruenbaum, President, BeneTemps
- Ed Hurley-Wales, SVP Human Resources, Workscape
- Kimberly Kapner, CEO, Kapner Consulting
- Shafiq Lokhandwala, CEO, NuView Systems
- Scott Simpson, Partner and Director of IT, Cambria Consulting
- Chris Twyman, Founder and CEO, Zapoint
- Don Weintraub, Founder and President, Rainmaker Associates
- Bart Wendell, Founder and President, Wendell Management
Many more CEO networking events to come!
Post by Kevin W. Grossman (join me on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn - and now join HRmarketer on Twitter!)
Labels: content marketing, HR suppliers, Networking, social media
That all depends, but it's a damn good question that Chris Twyman, Founder and CEO of Zapoint, asked at HRmarketer's first-ever CEO Networking Series in Boston, MA.