I just finished a study about “corporate policies concerning social media” and found some interesting paradox’s. You can’t control freedom of speech but you can set borders around business freedom of speech and the relations wit employees, customers and suppliers. The irony is that a business with a bad cultural is most at risk since the culture will be exposed to the world regardless of how many policies a business will create and try and control.

Corporate transparency because of social media puts more pressure on “managing effectively” and creating a productive culture that focuses on the “quality” internally and externally. I can sahre part of the paper to those interest. Simply email me at jay.deragon@gmail.com for a copy if interested

This is a great debate and one may not have a definitive universal answer.

It’s unreasonable to expect the same from a corporate blog that you would from an individual. Many topics can really offend people and lose your company’s business if you’re not careful.

Eric, I disagree, respectfully of course, that “Transparency is Transparency, There is no in between” as I believe there are different levels of transparency. I consider it transparent to be true to your personality by being honest and sincere without having to express all your views and lifestyles.

I’m going to have ramble on about this more on my own blog ^_^

Thanks,
Dave

@Ben – I’m with you on what you’re saying. Having your own strategy and separating a few things out definitely is a route many go. With what Chris went through, I wouldn’t change one bit. I was vocal about that whole situation and people’s lack of sense and just wanting to jump on a bandwagon. I understand people can influence, it was evident there, but he was truthful and others felt because they had the free reign of transparency, they could start bashing him. There comes a responsibility too.

@Sarah – Great point. Courtesy and respect is definitely something people tend to lack because they think transparency means they can act like jackasses. I’ve honestly seen it a lot but it’s easy to see who they are and let them be.

@Eric – That’s exactly it. People are afraid of public confrontation. Having it all aired out if someone disagrees with you. I definitely agree that those types of situations are needed – it’s life, it allows you to learn and understand how to handle certain scenarios and I think when people see that, they will respect you that much more.

Appreciate your view on this topic and definitely am not offended by your comments.

Transparency is Transparency, There is no in between is there? You simply cannot hide anymore if you participate. What if you do upset someone, what if you do offend someone, you may get fired from your job, SO WHAT, Because if you are open and out there long enough, it will happen, but it is just opportunity shifting around and opening up in different places. This Social Media space we are playing in could use some diversity anyway

I believe that as an executive or a small business choosing a Social Media Marketer or Consultant (I now folks don’t like the term) I want to know what you are made of, what have you screwed up and how did you fix it. Who fired you, and why. Who did you fire and why, then, we can make a pretty informed buying decision. Your best customers and evangelist come from your reactions and actions and how you handle things didn’t go well.

In closing, I will be honest with you, that I assume I am offending folks with my last few comments, and I would much rather not do that, I could be silent and still “Friend” everyone, BUT, I believe some of these things need to be said.

2009 will separate folks into camps here in this space and begin to define each camps strengths and weakness, which I suspect will make lots of folks uncomfortable,