Social Media in the Workplace
I recently had the pleasure of speaking to the employees at PICS (Progressive Intercultural Community Services) about the advantages of Social Media and how it can be used to market a brand online. It was a very positive experience and I feel privileged to have been invited to speak to such a socially aware and progressive group of people. PICS is an amazing organization and was founded by Charan S. Gill in 1987. As a social services agency catering to the needs of the multicultural community in BC, it has grown significantly under the leadership of Mr. Gill. Whats really great about PICS is that it has a very grass roots feel, and a sole purpose to help those that need it most! I was pleased to learn that they offer support and social programs for all immigrants, woman, senior citizens and youth – forming a very integral part of the community.
My goal with yesterday’s workshop was part of a broader strategy to help raise awareness of the valuable services offered by PICS. Since PICS already has an informative and easy to use website, my main focus was to find the best way for PICS employees to get the word out about it. With statistics showing that more and more people are spending time on social networks these days, it only made sense to start there. Although there are many to choose from, Facebook is the king of social networks. With 500 million members and growing (from all age groups), Facebook has rapidly become an integral part of our culture and the way we do business. Recent research has shown that 25% of people use Facebook to share media with their friends and colleagues, compared to 11% for email. This is a significant shift in the way we communicate and behave online, owing largely to the fact that it is so viral in nature.
