It was just a little over three years ago when I first presented to our global executive staff the coming importance of social media for business. It’s amazing to me how fast social media have become so integrated into our personal and business life.
This was very obvious last week when Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) made a number of sweeping changes to its site. They were so traumatic to some people that they became a lead news story on our local TV stations. Even the news teams were complaining about how the changes caused them anxiety.
It’s going to be interesting to see the impact these changes have on the business use of Facebook. Facebook is telling us that we will “like” the changes, which will make it easier to comment on posts and the information provided by advertisers based on our “liking.” It also claims the modifications will make it easier to find the information we are looking for.
Personally, I do not use Facebook for business or much on the home front, either. I’m big believer in blogs, LinkedIn, and Twitter (#almaagAvnet). Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT) does have a Facebook page to describe what we are doing in the communities we serve, but we are still struggling with the impact of it. What are you expecting, if anything?
Will all these changes help us do our jobs better? I really don’t know, and only time will tell. I do know that Facebook has hit 800 million users, and it just recorded a one-day record of the most visitors in one day at a staggering 500 million. So we need to pay attention. Again, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Facebook changes and how you feel they will affect your business or job function.
@Ms.Daisy I find that some businesses are a better fit for FB than others. Those that are oriented to a very specific niche need a strategy to make their target audience aware of their page. Merely casting a wide net may not work for a businesses with a customer base is that may not be so attuned to social media.
@ Ariella, I don't use social sites, but I am envious of the size of the audience available to tap into. I. Wish I have the means of making a business entry into Face book.
@Adeniji That's an interesting idea. But from what I see, some of the best known and most popular brands, like Starbucks, gain a lot from their FB presence. They also succeed in using it to make sales directly, as in the case of Starbucks cards that could be ordered and sent as a gift directly through FB.
@Ariella. You are right on that, I also feel some businesses prefer to depend on their own websit probably because it may contain more information than putting it on FB or for the sake of pride.
@Ms.Daisy Certainly, the huge number of users on Facebook make it something businesses have to pay attention to. I believe that they do, but not all are clear on how to harness the power to effectively reach the users.
@teach4people: Any business that thinks all people do on facebook is to chat and the likes is yet to understand the power of advertisment
Most times people dont even make up their minds on a particular product at the point of seening the advert until one day they are in need of something and the picture they have been seeing consistently begins to come to mind.
Major and big companies from my location put themselves on FB for the purpose of building their customer base weekly.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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